Racing in the desert with an electric car developed in a year is no easy feat. We have already talked about the Audi RS Q e-tron on more than one occasion. A car with two electric motors and one petrol engine as a generator, with which Stéphane Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz and Mattias Ekström will participate in the Dakar 2022.
A model that sets a new trend and that, even if it is perhaps too early to win this year, who knows … it will certainly be the winner in future editions, as the development manager of Audi Sport, Stefan Dreyer.
What were the challenges in designing a car like this for the Dakar?
“The biggest challenge is that we wanted to do something new, also thinking about the future of motorsport, and prove that you can do a long distance race with an alternative drivetrain. But the biggest challenge was to do all this in one year. . Developing a car like this, very complex and with pandemic conditions. To be honest, it’s the most challenging project Audi Motorsport has ever done. I’ve been here since 1999 so I’ve seen a little bit of everything. And I have to say that. the team had already done an incredible job. It was a great moment for me when I was taken over by Audi. When we finally received the cars it was a joy and a lot of pride for the whole team, ie engineers, mechanics, drivers … “
# 200 Team Audi Sport Audi: Stéphane Peterhansel, Edouard Boulanger
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
What were the biggest problems with the project?
“It was tough … We started testing in Morocco in the middle of the year and to be honest we weren’t ready. We can say we had a wide range of problems (laughs, editor’s note) “.
This is a winning project that is still in its infancy; when will Audi also be able to win in the Dakar?
“We come to the Dakar with great respect for this event. In the end, however, we are at the start of the races to face the challenges and win. To be realistic, the best thing is to start the race, to move forward day after day, step by step , towards our goal, which is always to win “.
How much does it help the team to have two experienced drivers like Sainz and Peterhansel?
“It’s unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. Whenever they talk I listen to them very carefully, because they are legends, very experienced pilots. In the case of Carlos, every time he comes and opens my office door, he describes everything really well; the behavior of the machine, the problems … He is very experienced, but his level of commitment and professionalism are also very high “.
All this technology, as it reports on the cars we drive, which is Audi’s business?
“Everything we do at Audi Sport, regardless of which racing program, has very close contact with the product department. It is not so much that a part used on a race car ends up being used on a road, but the fact that we work together in the process and pass on experience and technology. “
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