From Audi’s racing department, comes information about testing the electric racing prototype that will participate in the new class (T1-E) at the next edition of the Dakar Rally. It is an Audi RS Q e-tron which will be driven by Stéphane Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz and Mattias Ekström.

The first test 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) RS Q e-tron spent on hard roads in Spain. After that, the team continued the two-week testing in the deserts of Morocco, in the conditions of sandstorms and extremely high air temperatures.

Andreas Roos, responsible for the racing activities of Audi Sport said: “We do not expect the high temperatures that greeted us in Morocco at the rally, but we consciously exposed the car to the most extreme conditions to find out what impact it will have on the powertrains and batteries. We are on the right track, but the optimization work is not over yet. “

The Audi RS Q e-tron will be powered by two electric motors, used in Formula E, which will deliver a combined 671 hp. The engines will be powered by a 52 kWh battery that will be charged by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo gasoline engine from DTM.

The Dakar Rally will be held in the deserts of Saudi Arabia from January 2 to 14, 2022.

Source: Audi