Critical analysis

There are countless scenarios that can appear out of nowhere in any Dakar Rally and end a campaign in an instant. Such is the nature of an event of this type that accidents happen, machinery can be damaged or fail and the ever-changing terrain and conditions create their own set of obstacles to overcome.

And while it’s impossible for any team, not matter how professional, to plan for every eventuality, removing as many variables and weaknesses as possible if often what separates the successful from the rest.

This year, Audi Sport enjoyed more successes in its second Dakar Rally, including 14 podium results across the gruelling two week event. But it also suffered numerous setbacks and delays along the way thanks to, of all things, punctures and in some cases, the resultant suspension damage they caused.

It is a cruel irony that while the sophisticated, hybrid electric drive of the Audi RS Q e-trons functioned without a hiccup day after day, tyre damage caused an inordinate number of problems and holdups – something Audi Sport is hoping to remedy ahead of next year’s Dakar.

To that end the team headed back into the Saudi Arabian desert for a series of tests to discern how the team can be better prepared next year and remove as many variables from the equation as possible.

“Our technology, the entire team and our drivers and co-drivers have the potential to drive at the very front. Our stage results proved that,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Rolf Michl ahead of the recent critical analysis testing. 

“So it was all the more annoying that tyre failures and other problems set us back in January.”

“Now we have to find solutions. Our systematically planned test was the next important step on this path after the theoretical analysis.”

Using two different types of tyres from BF Goodrich, the official tyre supplier of the Dakar Rally, the team compared the performance and attempted to recreate the conditions of January’s damage in order to develop countermeasures. 

Across sand, gravel and sharp rocky surfaces the Audi Sport drivers put the RS Q e-trons through their paces, focussing on durability and damage patterns, as well as analysing the performance of the shock absorbers and using measurement sensors in the chassis to measure loads and accelerations as part of the analysis.

Sven Quandt, Team Director of Q Motorsport, deemed the testing a success although there is still plenty of work to be done ahead of the next race outing: 

“The test organisation was definitely demanding. We were able to reproduce tyre failures during the runs, which is pleasing in that it allows us to analyse very well the conditions and circumstances that caused us headaches in January. Closely related to this are the suspension settings, which we have varied. We haven’t worked out a 100 percent solution yet, but the test was valuable and we’re on the right track.” 

Aside from the insights the testing provided into tyre wear and suspension settings, it was another good opportunity to run the RS Q e-trons in actual Dakar conditions. With temperatures of over 42 degrees, the Audis with their advanced electric drive systems with low-emission energy converters powered by reFuel, over more than 2500 kilometres of harsh terrain – once again performing flawlessly.

The testing also allowed engineers and drivers to look at decision-making and driving style without the added pressure of competition to contend with. Looking for every little way to streamline their campaign in 2024.

Of Course in an event like the Dakar, there is no way to plan for every eventuality – but every potential problem removed ahead of time could be the difference between a stage win or a long day and night in the desert next time around.