While he will take part in the Dakar for the first time at the wheel of the Audi hybrid prototype next January, Stéphane Peterhansel has confided that he is not aiming for anything other than a Top 5 if he manages to reach the finish line.
After six victories on motorcycles and eight successes on four wheels, Stéphane Peterhansel sets himself a new challenge. Alongside Carlos Sainz and Mattias Ekström, the Burgundian joined Audi for the first appearance of the brand with the rings on the legendary rally-raid. In the Saudi desert, it is with a hybrid prototype that Stéphane Peterhansel will try to figure well. As the deadline approaches, the native of Echenoz-la-Méline assured the press that victory will not be his priority objective, aiming first of all … the finish line on January 14 in Jeddah . ” It means finishing the test of several thousand kilometers in the desert without major setback, assures the one who made the Dakar his domain. If we do, I’ll be happy with a Top 5 result. “The RS Q e-tron prototype, whose sole function of the heat engine will be to recharge the batteries for electric propulsion, has already convinced those who have already driven for Nissan, Mitsubishi, BMW, Mini or Peugeot in rally-raid.
The history of e-tron in motorsport. Our next chapter: @Dakar Rally 2022 – with the Audi RS Q e-tron*.
>> https://t.co/i5Tnh0Pbjz#FutureIsAnAttitude #RSQetron #RoadToDakar #Dakar2022 pic.twitter.com/nhRAsYw9sk
– Audi Sport (@audisport) October 12, 2021
Peterhansel surprised by the electric drive
Indeed, Stéphane Peterhansel said he was “amazed by the Audi”, especially in terms of acceleration. “I had tried a few motorcycles and electric cars before. At one point, it saturates after engine acceleration. I remembered that it accelerated hard at the start and then it saturated. There you go from 0 to 180 km / h with a constant thrust, assures the one who has won the Dakar fourteen times. As there are no gears to change, in certain conditions, it makes your life easier, you can concentrate on the steering wheel and on the accelerator. »Characteristics which should be an advantage on certain terrains during the two weeks of the race. ” In the dunes, it is perhaps one of the most efficient cars, assures Stéphane Peterhansel. You always have recovery. Even if you get caught by a ridge, you are never under a diet. “Performances that the competition should not see before the start of the Dakar on January 2nd. ” We focus on our testing program », Affirmed the French pilot, who put his mount to the test in Aragon but also in the Moroccan desert.
