Dakar 2023 – Prologue leader Mattias Ekström: “The race doesn’t really start until tomorrow”

Mattias Ekström (Audi) is only making his third appearance at the Dakar Rally. But the 44-year-old driver, the Swedish version of a jack-of-all-trades like Romain Dumas, appreciates the challenges. The former double champion of DTM and the World Championship of rallycross with the Rings brand has in fact took the lead of the Dakar 2023 after the prologue this Saturday, December 31.

Contested on the shores of the Red Sea, the first timed section of the most arduous rally-raids presented no major difficulty, and undoubtedly reminded the Swede of the World RX years.

🚗 @mattiasekstroem dancing in the desert! 👍# Dakar2023 pic.twitter.com/gGoc3g4Pny

- DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) December 31, 2022

“It’s always nice to get off to a good start but the rally is extremely long, tempers the driver of the Audi RS Q e-tron hybrid. We're ending 2022 on a good note, but the Dakar doesn't really start until tomorrow (Sunday, with a stage around Sea Camp of 368 km. Ed.). We will have to stay focused during the next two weeks. »

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Author of a first stage victory in 2022 and an encouraging ninth final position last winter, Mattias Ekström confirms his status as a challenger for the podium on January 15. He will already be able to choose his starting location for the first stage, a privilege reserved for the top 10 of the Prologue.

“It's good to be able to choose your position for the start when you're a junior like me at the Dakar. I will have traces to follow, he announces, to recognize that he will voluntarily place himself behind certain more experienced drivers in the discipline. The car is working well, the team has done a good job... We will be able to celebrate the new year and recharge the batteries for tomorrow. »