An electric 4×4 buggy with two Formula E engines and another petrol-powered battery charging buggy will be big news for the race, which kicks off tomorrow in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Audi electric e-tron has 680 horsepower and is considered an “airplane” by Peterhansel.
Stefan Peterhansel, who has 14 wins in 33 matches, and Carlos Sainz have won seven of the last ten stages of the Dakar Rally as they lead the Audi debut in the biggest off-road race on Saturday. A new dimension: Together with Swedish Mathias Ekstrom, they will pilot the RS Q e-tron, the first electric candidate for victory.
Audi is not the first electric car in the world’s toughest race. In 2017, the Acciona hit the Buenos Aires target, but in 57th and last place. It had a solar panel and 340 hp. In the German national team, everything is different.
Sven Quandt leads a squad of 80 people in the desert who can hardly hide their modesty. “We have never had such a complex car. We participate in the Dakar with great respect, ”says Julius Seebach, Director of Audi Sport, referring to the car that Stefan Petransel simply defines:“ It’s like flying on an airplane. Nothing complicated. “.
To avoid charging problems, the RS Q e-tron uses the turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0-liter petrol engine that was in the DTM, but functions as an energy converter, connected only to 50 kWh batteries that weigh 370 kg. These are the ones that power two Formula E electric motors that drive four wheels, and the transmission is also electric.
Developed in record time, Audi has run many tests but never competed, as one can only guess. “It will be difficult for us to have a third person who will be Nasser. And little is known about Nani and Seb’s BRX, which might come as a surprise, ”says Peteransel, flaunting the favorites. Toyota will be in the front row with Nasser Al-Attiyah, while Nani Roma and Sebastian Loeb will have second-generation biofuel prototypes. Dakar has truly entered a new era!
