Jean-Marc Fortin: “Audi is not the type to fumble for ten years before being competitive”

Your successes last year make you the logical favorites for the 2023 Dakar?

Certainly not. Audi is arriving for the second time with crews that display immense experience. On paper, Peterhansel and Sainz are the best. Almost a year ago, they got over the hump while putting in some very interesting performances when they weren't in trouble. Like any manufacturer with a respectable track record, the brand has learned from its mistakes. Audi is not the type to fumble for ten years before being competitive. They have increased the number of private tests out of sight. At Rally of Morocco, while their vehicles started out of classification, they achieved good performances, apparently. And then… it’s in the spirit of the times to promote electric vehicles, right? That said, I don't think they're going to crush the competition right off the bat. It's not the type of house. I rather believe that they will opt for the strategy which succeeded them in Endurance in the past: hiding the potential of their cars in the first stages – especially since the balance of performance will be reviewed on the evening of the 2nd day – then giving up.

Are you already leaving defeated?

Of course not ! We undoubtedly have the best crews (among others Nasser Al-Attiyah-Mathieu Baumel, Giniel de Villiers/Dennis Murphy, and Henk Lategan/Brett Cummings. Editor's note) in terms of collaboration and if our cars are not favored by the BoP, they will compensate through navigation. Nasser and Mathieu are perfectly used to the stress of reading the road book. There is never the slightest tension on board; they seek the road together. If I believe the images taken a few months ago in the Audi of a Hispanic crew, it was rather tense. And then there is reading the terrain. We will see where Nasser stands at the start of the 2nd week. But if we are to believe the organizer, the stages in the famous “Empty Quarter” should suit him. Nasser has an ability to read the sand, to understand the dunes like no one else. And there, apparently, he will be served.

Do you consider Audis to be electric vehicles?

It all depends on your broad-mindedness. It is certain that these cars have an electric motor on the front wheels and one on the rear wheels. But they also have a V6 thermal engine powered by 340 liters of gasoline. The tank has even been increased by 40 liters compared to last year. At the 2022 Dakar, Audi drivers sometimes kept their combustion engine at 7500 rpm for 12 minutes to recharge their batteries in the refueling zones. Fortunately, this possibility has been erased for the 2023 Dakar.

Will you be the only outsiders?

No. The Hunter entered by the Prodrive team for (Sébastien) Loeb and (Fabian) Lurquin will play in the same category as us. They also rely on a turbo V6. I think they've fixed the reliability issues from last year. Furthermore, the team, which no longer has anything to prove in competition, is also becoming experienced in rally raids. It should work. Unlike the Audi crews, they have sharpened their collaboration in different events this year. The bond between Seb and Fabian will grow from this. And as everyone, in their field, is excellent, I am sure that they will shine.

Comments collected by Dominique Dricot