In a Dakar first, a low-emission prototype with an electric drive, high-voltage battery and energy converter won ‘the world’s toughest desert rally’ earlier this month. Spaniards Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz secured
Audi’s first victory after driving around 7,900km in an Audi RS Q e-tron — and winning with a lead of 1hr 20min.
The Audi RS Q e-tron has electric all-wheel drive and the energy supply is ensured by a high-voltage battery and an energy converter (DTM-derived 2-litre turbo engine) ‘that runs on residual fuel-based reFuel’, thus saving 60% of CO
2 emissions compared to conventional fuels.
Oliver Hoffmann, Audi AG Board member for technical development, said: “With our revolutionary electrified drive, we have overcome one of the biggest challenges in motorsport after just three years. We are thus continuing a long series of pioneering achievements that have always characterised Audi in four decades of motorsport. I would like to thank the entire team for this outstanding performance in a particularly tough edition of the Dakar Rally.”
Audi was up against the brands of Toyota and Ford, as well as the experienced opponents from Prodrive. The rally included daily stages of often more than 400km, two marathon stages with limited or even no service, as well as 4,600 timed km and 7,883km in total. The event was characterised by not only sharp scree and gravel roads, but also ‘towering chains of dunes’ and often difficult navigation.
Staying on the sporting theme, Audi has reached an agreement with Sauber to make the Swiss Formula One (F1) operation their works team from 2026. In August last year the German manufacturer announced that it will join F1 as a power unit supplier when new regulations will see increased electrical power and 100% sustainable fuels. Audi will design and develop their power unit at the company’s Neuburg base in Germany, where the project is already being worked on. Sauber will develop and manufacture the car at its headquarters in Hinwil, Switzerland.