Half-Time Results At The Dakar Rally, Three Audi RS Q E-Tron Making Headlights

Showcasing reliably working electric drive systems and fascination with e-mobility, Audi made its presence known on the first half of the Dakar Rally. 

With full competitiveness on debut at the world’s toughest rally, the brand has garnered six podium finishes in the daily results.

Audi’s board member for technical development, Oliver Hoffmann, expressed, “What I have seen from our team up to the rest-day of the Dakar Rally impressed me. Our team has developed the Audi RS Q e-tron in record time. Right off the bat, we are strong on a sporting level. Our drivers, co-drivers and the entire team are showing a great team performance. And our advanced technology fulfills the expectations placed in it.” 

To begin with, Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz caused great excitement and high media attention as early as on the fourth day of the competition. 

The three-time Dakar winners managed the Audi RS Q e-tron’s first stage victory on the 338 km special stage from Al Artawiya to Al Qaisumah in the Saudi Arabian desert. 

Outstandingly, the two Spaniards recorded an average of 138 km/h, which is an impressive figure on unpaved tracks.

As such, the entire Team Audi Sport received the two stage winners with jubilation in the bivouac afterwards.

Notably, Audi’s interim tally after seven days includes one first, two second and three third places in the stage results. 

At which, fourteen-time Dakar winner Stéphane Peterhansel and Edouard Boulanger as well as Mattias Ekström and Emil Bergkvist, with only their second debut, have contributed to this record.

Currently, Mattias Ekström as the best Audi driver is in 14th place overall, Carlos Sainz is 25th and Stéphane Peterhansel 71st.

Audi Sport GmbH’s managing director and responsible for motorsport at Audi, Julius Seebach, said, “The spirit that prevails in the team makes me proud. The cohesion throughout the first half of the rally shows how quickly this young team has grown into a unit. Even the preparation phase was extremely intensive in order to be ‘race ready’ at the start. From the white sheet of paper to the desert we only had one year of development time for the most complex vehicle in Audi Motorsport history. For me, the cohesion in the team is crucial for the successes already achieved, which exceed what newcomers can expect at their first Dakar.”

On that note, complexity of the three prototypes is very high, for the first time, the alternative drive concept merges an e-powertrain with a high-voltage cell and a highly efficient energy converter. 

However, even with a very short test phase, the systems of all three cars run without complaint in the tough everyday desert conditions.

Still, despite all its successes, Audi also had to face Dakar-specific challenges on almost 4,700 km in the meantime. 

For instance, in addition to difficulties with navigation on the second day, suspension damage robbed the team of all chances.

Stéphane Peterhansel presumably damaged a rim and the lower wishbone of the rear left suspension on a stone on the second day, resulting in consequential damage and time wasted.

Audi Sport Racing’s head of development, Stefan Dreyer, concluded, “We were surprised that the only obstacles so far have been in conventional areas like the suspension. It’s impressive that our innovative and highly stressed drive concept has worked flawlessly so far and that the vehicle’s performance is right as well. At the same time, we know that the rally still has a long way to go. Our goal remains to arrive in Jeddah in a week’s time with all three cars.”