Fast start in Abu Dhabi

Building on its outstanding debut in the Dakar Rally in January, the RS Q e-tron has once again led the pack in an international off-road rally taking a stage win in at the start of the 2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

Driven by Stéphane Peterhansel and co-driver Edouard Boulanger, the Audi Sport pair quickly stamped their authority on the Abu Dhabi event which is the second round in the FIA World Rally Raid Championship. Peterhansel has already won this event seven times – once on a motorcycle and the rest in cars, but this is his first attempt behind the wheel of a hybrid vehicle using electric drive.

The event kicked off at the spectacular Yas Marina Grand Prix circuit in Abu Dhabi where all vehicles went through final scrinfering and all pre-race checks before setting their sites on the desert. The course for the five-stage event is held in terrain similar to that of Saudi Arabia where the Dakar Rally was held just two months ago, and while the large dunes are familiar territory, the temperatures in the region are now markedly higher than they were at the start fo the year, presenting a whole new range of challenges to the Audi Sport team.

But the temperature had no ill effect on the Audi as racing got underway, with Peterhansel drawing on his time behind the wheel in the Dakar and showing what the Audi could do. He and co-driver Edouard Boulanger put together an error-free first stage from the Las Marina circuit to the finish in Qasr Al Sarah in Hameem – 262 kilometre special stage plus transport leg for a total stage distance of 297 kilometres – to take out the first day.

The French diver pairing completely dominated the stage, finishing 9 minutes 30 seconds ahead of their nearest rivals and putting the RS Q e-tron on top of the leaderboard in a world rally event for the very first time.

As expected, the heat and the very soft sand presented plenty of challenges to the teams, but Peterhansel was understandably pleased with the result.

“No problem at all with the navigation and also no problem at all with the car,” he said at the finish. “So I think that we did a good stage today for the first run.”

Co-driver Edouard Boulanger was likewise thrilled with the result, particularly in light of the temperatures which hovered over 36 degrees(five degrees higher than Dakar) but are expected to crest 40 degrees throughout the week.

“I think it’s very promising for the future anyway, because it’s the first time we’re facing these kind of conditions in terms of temperature, and the car reacted perfectly,” he said.

But still cautious so early in the event, Q-Motorsport boss, Sven Quandt will be keen to see how the other top teams do as the rally progresses.

“To win the first day is quite nice,” says Quandt, who is CEO and Team Principal of Audi sport’s race partner, Q-Motorsport, “but the other top cars had problems today so we cannot say how fast we are really, but still to have the first stage win is great.”

The Stage 1 win also means that the Audi will start first tomorrow which is always more difficult, given the RS Q e-tron will be creating the track as it goes – a situation which is easier for those following. The second stage is longer than the first, with a 316 kilometre special stage and a 137 kilometre transport leg for a complete distance of 453 kilometres.

Temperatures are expected to edge higher again tomorrow, which will add another dimension to the day’s racing.