HOW TO WIN THE ICONIC DAKAR RALLY

Three years ago, Audi set itself the seemingly impossible challenge of winning the world’s toughest desert race. Here’s how the famous four rings made motorsport history

Three years ago, Audi had never competed in Rally Raid, the hardcore Ironman-loving sibling of stage rally, let alone the iconic but grueling 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 aim of the project was 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-meltingly complex motorsport programme together. From nothing.

And leading up to the 2024 Dakar Rally, Audi's bosses made it clear that this was its third and final attempt at outright Dakar victory. No pressure, then.

No pressure to win the most punishing event on the motorsport calendar. No pressure to do it at the final opportunity. No pressure of staining its immaculate motorsport record, especially as it's a manufacturer synonymous with rough-stuff success. Oh, and no pressure to do so in a car concept radically different to anything else that's ever scored victory in 45 years of this revered off-road enduro. Talk about a pioneering spirit.