Dakar Rally

Audi, an irrational fear?

Before the race settled, the game of reputations was going well in the premier category, with the priority target being the status of favorite taken by Audi, which did not appreciate the new technical regulations introduced.

Published on 03/01/2023 à 12:30

Medhi Casaurang

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Audi, an irrational fear?

The Audi RS Q e-tron takes on the Dakar © Eric Vargiolu / DPPI

The bivouac is the heart of a rally-raid. This is where all stakeholders in an off-road competition spend most of their time. The one built on the banks of the turquoise water of the Red Sea, time to welcome the start of the 45th edition of the famous Dakar as well as the first two days of the event, broke density records with around 3000 inhabitants recorded . A large population linked to the installation of technical checks, a first in the 45 years of existence of the Dakar. As in a village, a shop selling basic products had even been added! And as in any small town on a human scale, rumors and reputations spread at lightning speed. Those surrounding the presence of Audi were undoubtedly the most nagging of all since the erection of the base camp the day after Christmas. Too fast, too efficient, not slowed down enough by the technical commissioners, the RS Q e-tron hybrids entrusted to Stéphane Peterhansel-Édouard Boulanger, Carlos Sainz-Lucas Cruz and Mattias Ekström-Emil Bergkvist are feared by their opponents. To the point that the brand with the rings takes on the costume of the ogre ready to eat the poor 4×4 T1+ (T1+ (queen category composed of 4×4 or two-wheel drive prototypes) gasoline. And their participation in the Rallye du Maroc, last October, in a category apart from T1+ FIA (Toyota, Prodrive, Mini), has not helped matters. 

However, when we left Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), almost a year ago, Toyota and Bahrain Raid

Medhi Casaurang

Passionate about the history of motorsport across all disciplines, I learned to read thanks to AUTOhebdo. At least that's what my parents tell everyone when they see my name inside!

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