AUDI Sport celebrated its inaugural Dakar Rally win on January 19, 2024, with Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz achieving their fourth victory with a fourth different brand, marking a significant milestone in Audi’s extensive motorsport history. This win fills one of the last gaps in Audi’s global motorsport achievements, adding to their successes in various racing disciplines.
The victorious Audi RS Q e-tron, chassis number 110, completed over 13,934 kilometers in testing and competition by the end of the 2024 Dakar Rally. Dr. Leonardo Pascali, the Technical Director since 2023, described leading the Dakar project to victory as his best professional experience, despite it being his first foray into off-road rallying. Joan Navarro, an experienced vehicle engineer in desert rallies, expressed immense pride in securing his fourth Dakar victory as Carlos Sainz’s engineer.
The Audi RS Q e-tron endured extreme conditions, with a peak acceleration of 16 g recorded during one of the jumps, showcasing the robustness of its design as it maintained key components without change throughout the rally. The car’s performance highlighted its efficiency, reaching speeds of 170 km/h on off-road tracks and managing challenging terrains like the “Empty Quarter” with significantly lower speeds.
Navigation by co-driver Lucas Cruz played a crucial role in the team’s efficiency and success. Strategic decisions by the team’s management, including a calculated time loss to gain a tactical advantage, were pivotal in maintaining the lead. Carlos Sainz’s strategic driving, advised by his son Carlos Jr., balanced aggression with caution, contributing to the victory without needing a stage win.
The Audi RS Q e-tron demonstrated remarkable energy efficiency, recovering an average of 14% of its daily energy needs through recuperation, reducing brake wear, and utilizing 55 tires throughout the rally. Despite the hardships of desert life and the camaraderie among competitors, Sainz and Cruz navigated through cold showers, wilderness nights, and the challenges of marathon stages to claim victory.
The team’s spirit was evident in both the competition and downtime, with football table games and emotional tributes, including Sainz wearing a Spanish flag cape at the rally’s conclusion. The surprise presence of Sainz’s family at the finish line added a personal touch to the professional triumph. Dr. Pascali celebrated not only the Dakar win but also his son’s sailing championship victory, capping off a remarkable day for Team Audi Sport.
