Tag Archives: Dakar Rally

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Motorcyclist Carles Falcon is the new victim of the Dakar Rally

Rally Dakar is an annual rally raid in which hundreds of drivers participate in different categories. Also, it is one of the longest (7,891 kilometers) and most dangerous races in the world, which since 1979 (inaugural season) has always been fatal for drivers as well as other non-participants. This season is no exception, and the victim is the Spanish motorcyclist Carles Falcon.

Falcon lost his life due to severe injuries sustained in an accident during the Dakar Rally last week. He was driving the second stage (kilometer 448) when, 15 kilometers before the finish line, he fell and hit his head hard on the ground, after which he was transported by helicopter to the hospital. The doctors tried to save his life, but after several days of struggle and transport to Spain, his body could not take it.

“We are saddened by the death of the Spanish motorcyclist Carles Falcon. The organizers of the Dakar Rally and the competitors express their condolences to his family and friends,” the rally organization said.

“Carles has left us. The medical team has confirmed that the neurological damage caused by the cardiorespiratory attack at the time of the accident is irreversible,” his team posted on Instagram.

Falcon was not only a driver, he also worked as an off-road instructor and guide.

Source: Dakar Rally / Photo: EPA-EFE

EV, News

2023 Audi RS Q e-tron

The end of the year is approaching, but so is the start of the new Dakar Rally, which will start on December 31. Teams are preparing their cars for one of the toughest races in the world. One of them is Audi which will use last years, but improved RS Q e-tron.

Audi finished ninth overall last year, and the RS Q e-tron was fastest on four stages. This was a sign for the German manufacturer to come this year with the same electric car powered only by electric motors (the two-liter turbo petrol in this case only serves to charge the batteries). With new information and significantly more time to prepare, Audi managed to shed a few kilos by using lighter materials, which should help the hybrid Audis against the Toyota, Mini and BRX whose cars are powered by internal combustion engines.

The Audi RS Q e-tron competes in the T1-E category. It is powered by two electric motors in combination with a 2.0 liter four-cylinder turbo engine, with a total power of 670 hp (500 kW). It is equipped with a 370 kg battery with a capacity of around 52 kWh. It reaches 62 mph in less than 4.5 seconds with a top speed, limited by regulations, of 106 mph (170 km/h).

The Dakar Rally will be held in Saudi Arabia for the fourth time, it contains 5,000 kilometers of speed tests. begins on December 31 and ends on January 15, 2023.

Source: Audi

EV, News

Audi RS Q e-tron

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