Audi approaches Rally Morocco without pressure

It's been a long time since the Audi Sport team competed in a rally-raid. The last time the brand with the Rings tackled a desert, it crushed the competition in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in February 2022. But it was with their old model, which will not be taking part in the Rally du Maroc (October 1-6).

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Indeed, Audi will debut its RS Q e-tron E2 hybrid in the Maghreb for its three official crews (Mattias Ekström/Emil Bergkvist, Stéphane Peterhansel/Édouard Boulanger and Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz). Pourront-ils rivaliser avec les BRX de l’équipe Prodrive et les Toyota d’Overdrive, deux 4×4 thermiques qui n’ont pas autant évolué depuis l’hiver dernier.

Getting ready for the next big testing opportunity for the new Audi RS Q e-tron*: the 2022 @MarocRally – preparing for the @Dakar Rally in January 2023.

>> https://t.co/i5Tnh0Pbjz#FutureIsAnAttitude #RallyeduMorocco #RoadToDakar2023 #RSQetron pic.twitter.com/BYz8oDMVoc

- Audi Sport (@audisport) September 28, 2022

“We have a clear objective”, explains Uwe Breuling, head of vehicle operations at Audi Sport. “This time it's not about individual sporting results, but about covering as many kilometers as possible without any setbacks. It is important for us to properly prepare men and machines for the Dakar (December 31-January 15). »

A particularity of this year's Rallye du Maroc is the geographical location of the event, which will take place for the first time in the southwest of the country. “My previous rally experience is therefore not of much use to me this year”, recognizes Stéphane Peterhansel, winner in 2004, 2009 and 2010. “Basically, this rally remains the ideal dress rehearsal for the Dakar. Dunes, sandy tracks, small hills with stony ground, but also fast tracks on hard ground represent exactly the variety of terrain that we will encounter next January. »

The bivouac is closer to the Atlantic Ocean in Morocco, but the stages lead inland. “As we go far south, temperatures will likely be similar to our recent test,” continued “Monsieur Dakar”.