Audi has started preparations in view of the Dakar 2024. The electric prototype with range extender Audi RS Q e-tron E2 which raced the 39;edition 2023, carried out an intense test session in Saudi Arabia. In the last Dakar, this car conquered 14 stage podiums in 15 days of competition, demonstrating reliability and reliability. and efficiency.
Unfortunately, multiple punctures compromised the classification of the crews Mattias Ekström/Emil Bergkvist, Stéphane Peterhansel/Edouard Boulanger and Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz. Precisely for this reason, in this month of May the Audi Sport Team is taking part in the competition. returned to Arabia to recreate the conditions of the most popular rally; difficult in the world, so; to refine the set-up of the car along fast tracks full of stones and take the BF Goodrich tires to the limit.
THE TESTS 
Specifically, two variants of the tires were used during these tests. The Audi Sport Team measured and compared the performances by recreating the conditions of the recent Dakar thanks to a “sprint” track, characterized by gravel and sand where to put the suspensions to the test, and over 110 km of stony ground where to push endurance to the limit and tire resistance. At the same time it is the calibration of the shock absorbers has been refined.
In Saudi Arabia, the electric prototype he faced extreme temperatures, up to 42 degrees and very strong winds. Overall, 2,568 km of tests were covered without any problems, confirming the maturity of the team. technique of the Audi electric prototype. In parallel, engineers and crews have refined the decision-making processes to be adopted in the race. Upon the return of the cars, it is an in-depth analysis of the data collected is foreseen, as well as to better prepare for the Dakar 2024. Sven Quandt, owner of the Q Motorsport team that manages the prototypes in the race, commented:
The organization of the tests yes it is proved quite challenging. We have recreated the conditions that penalized our crews during the Dakar 2023, especially the terrains where we suffered the most; punctures. We mainly intervened on the suspension calibration. We haven't reached the perfect setup yet, but the steps forward are satisfying.
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