Ad Feature: How Audi Won The Iconic Dakar Rally

Опубликовано 4 марта 2024, 17:00

Three years ago, Audi had never competed in Rally Raid, the hardcore, Ironman-loving sibling of stage rally, let alone the iconic but gruelling two-week-long Dakar Rally.

But Audi, having pushed boundaries and conquered multiple motorsport disciplines throughout its history (including endurance racing and Le Mans, rallying, DTM, IMSA and Formula E) wasn’t afraid of a challenge. In fact, it fancied making one of the toughest races in the world tougher.

The project aimed to be the first car manufacturer to use an electrified drivetrain in combination with an efficient energy converter to compete for overall victory against conventionally powered competitors in the world’s toughest rally. No mean feat, especially as it’s only had three years to bring this brain-melting complex motorsport programme together. From nothing.

But on January 19 2024, Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz secured Audi’s first victory in the Dakar Rally. It’s the first time a car with electrified drive has won the world’s toughest desert rally. Here’s how the famous four rings made motorsport history

*This vehicle shown here is the Rally Dakar vehicle that is not available as a production model. Closed course, professional driver. Do not attempt. The Audi RS Q e-tron combines an electric drivetrain with an energy converter system comprising a TFSI engine and generator.

**This is an Advertisement Feature by Audi**

Subscribe to Top Gear for more videos: bit.ly/SubscribeToTopGear

WATCH MORE TOP GEAR:
First Looks: bit.ly/TGFirstLooks 
First Drives: bit.ly/TGFirstDrives
American Tuned ft. Rob Dahm: bit.ly/TGAmericanTuned
LISTEN to the Top Gear Magazine Podcast: topgear.podlink.to/Podcast
Sign up for our newsletter: topgear.com/newsletter-signup

MORE ABOUT TOP GEAR:
Welcome to the official home of Top Gear on YouTube. Here you'll find all the best clips from your favourite episodes, whether that’s Ken Block drifting London in the Hoonicorn, Chris Harris in the latest Porsche 911 GT3 or classic Top Gear clips from Clarkson, Hammond and May. You'll also find the latest performance car reviews from the TopGear.com crew, our brand new series American Tuned with Rob Dahm and the fastest power laps from our in house performance benchmark: The Stig.

This is a commercial channel from BBC Studios.

Service & Feedback bbcstudios.com/contact/contact...