Audi prepares engines for its second participation in the Dakar Rally with new rules and challenges, where it bets on its line-up of drivers and co-drivers.

Among the changes of the Dakar Rally for 2023 is a new modality in the stages, at eliminate the previous neutralization zones, with breaks of 15 to 20 minutes.

Carlos Sainz and his co-driver Lucas Cruz, as well as Stéphane Peterhansel and Edouard Boulanger, have already they had known the Q Motorsport team since before Audi started the Dakar project. The
Sven Quandt’s experienced team has been contesting desert rallies for almost three decades,
He has won the Dakar six times and many titles in cross country events. Together with the Audi team
Sport, Trebur’s squad is responsible for lining up the three Audi RS Q e-trons.

A good relationship between driver and co-driver is a prerequisite for success. “My trust with my co-driver is great, together we have won the Dakar Rally three times. We help each other”, declares Carlos Sainz, who is contesting the Dakar Rally together with Lucas Cruz for the eleventh time. His co-driver adds: “Communication with Carlos is really good. we have a strong partnership and there is a good spirit.” Stéphane Peterhansel, a regular participant in the Dakar since 1988 and a 14-time test winner, he claimed his last victory in 2021 with his co-driver Edward Boulanger. Mattias Ekström, for his part, is a two-time DTM champion, world champion in rallycross and an equally experienced driver with great successes in the motor world. The Swede faces his colleagues with respect and humor. “I can only learn from both,” he says.

With the RS Q e-tron, Audi has developed an innovative concept for the toughest discipline in motorsport. Carlos Sainz adds: “We told Audi: don’t underestimate the Dakar. And they didn’t. They trusted in the direction in which the pilots wanted to develop the project. The success achieved so far proves us right, it was the right approach on both sides.” Audi Sport marked its first milestones in this adventure: four stage wins at the Dakar Rally in January, victory in the general classification at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in March and the second stage of the prototype’s construction in September. “The new car is a big step forward in terms of reliability. But there are always surprises in our sport, including techniques”, adds Carlos Sainz.