Carlos Sainz and Audi clinch Dakar 2024 victory

Audi has actually produced history at Dakar by winning the 2024 rally raid with Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz behind the wheel of the Audi RS Q e-tron. This marks the very first time the German car manufacturer has actually won at the renowned motorsport occasion, and with this likewise declares a brand-new period in motorsport as the Audi RS Q e-tron is the very first vehicle to be powered by an amazed powertrain.

Sainz and Cruz protected the win with a comfy lead, which they kept from the 6th phase. The duo have actually been triumphant at Dakar 3 times before – 2010, 2018 and 2020. Throughout the rally itself, Sebastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin provided a strong pursuit, however their chase was interrupted on the penultimate day as their cars and truck suffered damage. Discussing the triumph, Gernot Dollner, Chairman of the board, Audi AG stated, “Audi has as soon as again set a turning point in motorsport. Winning the world’ s hardest desert rally with an amazed drive is a noticeable ‘ Vorsprung durch Technik’ and points the method to our electrical future.”

“That was a frustrating group efficiency,” stated Head of Audi Motorsport Rolf Michl. “ Everyone gathered to make this historical outcome possible for Audi. A huge thank you to this terrific group. Today we have actually composed a brand-new chapter for Audi, however likewise in the history of the Dakar Rally.”

The 2024 Dakar phase included 7,883 km with everyday phases of more than 400km and 2 marathon phases. Saudi Arabia provided its most difficult surface for the rivals, with sharp scree and gravel roadways, however likewise towering chains of dunes in the Empty Quarter of the Arabian Peninsula and frequently tough navigation required whatever from the groups.

Audi’s 2 others vehicles likewise put in constant efficiencies with Dakar legend Stephane Peterhansel won his 50th phase in general at Dakar midway through, however a hydraulic system problem required him and his co-drover Edouard Boulanger to fall back. Mattias Ekstrom and Emil Bergkvist won the beginning and remained in 2nd location by the 6th phase, however an axle problem cost them a possibility of triumph. The 2 groups supported Sainz and Cruz throughout a number of phases, to make sure Team Audi Sport’s success.

The 2024 Audi RS Q e-tron is a developed variation of the previous year’s opposition. The vehicle mixes in an electrical motor, a high-voltage battery and an effective engine to produce a mix of extraordinary efficiency on the hardest of surfaces. Compared to in 2015, the RS Q e-tron has a better chassis, much better defense from damage, more capable Quattro AWD, and much better servicability. No such energized powered cars and truck has actually been at the leading action at Dakar ever in the past.