An electric car won the Dakar for the first time: keys to Carlos Sainz’s Audi RS Q e-tron

There is one stage left until the end of Dakar 2024, but Carlos Sainz He will leave Saudi Arabia as the new champion of the automobile category. A historic event not only because it is Matador’s fourth victory in the competition, but also because it is the first time it has been won by an electric car. The merit that falls to him Audi RS Q e-tron.

On stage 11, between Alula and Yanbu, Carlos Sainz not only continued to exploit the potential of the Audi RS Q e-tron, but also took advantage of a breakdown that delayed the Frenchman for a long time. Sebastien Loebto this day his main rival for the title.

The breakdown of the Frenchman’s right front suspension fork allowed Carlos Sainz get more than an hour difference in section, building on its big work on the Audi RS Q e-tron. An unimaginable gap, considering what happened at yesterday’s stage, when, according to its results, the difference between the Spaniard and his main rival in the general classification of the absolute division was only 13 minutes.

Carlos Sainz completed the eleventh stage of the 2024 Dakar in third place in preliminary qualifying. The activities of the day were left in the hands Guerlain Chisherit, from Overdrive Racing, who completed the 420-kilometer stretch in 4 hours 43 minutes. His partner came second Guillaume de Meviusby 5 minutes and 32 seconds, and immediately afterwards Matador emerged in his Audi RS Q e-tron, 5 minutes and 35 seconds back, as the day’s winner.

Although Sébastien Loeb managed to continue the competition thanks to a spare provided by a teammate, he lost a lot of place on the stage. arrived in place 28, 1 hour 27 minutes from the winner. This relegated him to third place in the provisional general classification, headed by Carlos Sainz and his Audi RS Q e-tron.

Audi RS Q e-tron is the first electric car to win the Dakar

Stage 11 completed, Carlos Sainz leads easily Dakar 2024 and the title is guaranteed by the Audi RS Q e-tron. In the general classification of the Ultimate car division, they are 1 hour 27 minutes and 6 seconds behind their main pursuer, the Belgian De Mevius. While the distance with Loeb is 1 hour 35 minutes and 2 seconds.

This dramatically changed the landscape of the competition, which was expected to go head-to-head with Sebastien Loeb until the very end. And considering that there is only one day left of relatively simple competitions, It can be assumed that Carlos Sainz will leave Saudi Arabia with his fourth Dakar crown under his arm..

Tomorrow, Friday, Dakar 2024 will say goodbye to Saudi Arabia. a loop Yanbu-Yanbu. There will be 153 kilometers of links and 175 kilometers of special ones. A short section compared to other stages of the competition. So, with the difference of about an hour and a half in his favor, it is logical to assume that Carlos Sainz will go out with caution and take care of his Audi RS Q e-tron in order to complete the trip without incident and take the title. Certainly A matador doesn’t feel like a champion until he crosses the finish line.but only misfortune could deprive him of his glory.

Taking for granted the dedication of Carlos Sainz, Audi achieved the unthinkable: an electric car managed to win in the desert. An achievement that will remain in the history books, given the youth of this project. After all, this is only the third participation of the Audi RS Q e-tron in Dakar.

The German automaker unveiled the car in mid-2021 and it competed in the 2022 Dakar for the first time. That just two years later he managed to win the world’s toughest and most demanding automobile competition is a success that goes beyond mere success. sports.

Audi achieves the unthinkable: electric car wins in the desert

The Audi RS Q e-tron is a true technological marvel.. The car, designed by Argentinian Juan Manuel Diaz, uses two electric motors, one on each axle, and an energy converter. The latter consists of an internal combustion engine running on synthetic fuel, which works in conjunction with a third electric motor to recharge the battery.

Since the internal combustion engine does not transmit torque to the wheels, the motor is completely electric. The two electric motors, based on those used in Formula E, can generate a maximum combined power of 500 kW. That is, the equivalent of approximately 680 horsepower. Meanwhile, the high-voltage battery installed in the Audi RS Q e-tron has a capacity of 52 kWh and weighs 370 kilograms.

Adapting the Audi RS Q e-tron to the demands of the desert and the long distances of the Dakar was a major challenge for the Germans. Engineers had to develop a power management system that was balanced enough to guarantee charging duration without sacrificing power when needed. Let’s keep in mind that sometimes a car consumes more energy than it can produce through the inverter. Therefore, it is also important that the car can recover some energy when braking.

Added to this is a special battery protection system not only from shock; also against water and fire. And a complete safety solution that will cut off the power in case of a serious accident.

Software also played a crucial role in this story. Carlos Sainz’s car is, of course, all-wheel drive, but like any electric car, it has no mechanical connection between the axles. That is why a “virtual differential” solution was developed, which is responsible for torque distribution.

Decisive victory for the future of Dakar

From 2022, the Dakar Rally has defined its future strategy with the aim of reducing the environmental impact of the competition. By 2030 The organizers suggested that all categories use low-emission vehicles.. The triumph of the Audi RS Q e-tron is a clear example of what this type of car can achieve. Even when used in the most unfavorable conditions.

If all goes well, tomorrow Carlos Sainz and his co-driver Lucas Cruz will celebrate the new Dakar on the shores of the Red Sea. This will be Matador’s fourth, following the 2010, 2018 and 2020 dedications. and the first in the field of electric mobility.