The 2023 Dakar Rally looks more interesting and challenging than ever. It will be the toughest since it arrived on Saudi soil, with a total distance of 8,549km spread over 15 days – including a gruelling four-day foray into the Rub' al-Khali desert, also known as the Empty Quarter.
Set to check even the maximum finished drivers, one veteran of the Dakar is determined to tame the annoying new course. Carlos Sainz has already claimed victory on 3 events and is feeling confident that he can once again mission for the name after an outstanding yr behind the wheel of the Audi RS Q e-Tron.
Sainz has once more mixed his participation in Extreme E – the firstly-street electric powered automobile championship – in which he fought for the title along Laia Sanz, with the improvement of the second version of the Audi RS Q e-Tron. Unlike remaining year, the Spaniard has been in a position to check the car in opposition, competing in the Rallye du Maroc and even accomplishing victory inside the Open category. That triumph has given self assurance to the entire Audi crew, inclusive of Stéphane Peterhansel and Mattias Ekström.
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Now, on the age of 60, the driver called 'El Matador' continues to maintain the competitive spirit that has always characterised him. And, with the Dakar Rally looming in the historical past, he would not hide his choice to take on the dunes of Saudi Arabia.
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The Dakar is like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a race that most effective takes vicinity once a yr and that the entirety is on the road," says Sainz. "As the race gets closer, the days get longer and everyone within the team are looking forward to the begin of the race. I admit that once I'm there, with more than one days to go, I do begin to experience the tension.
It's clear that Sainz isn't happy with three Dakar victories. He has his sights set on a fourth and making history through catapulting an electric-powered automobile to the top. "While I even have taken it step-with the aid of-step on this competition, with projects as formidable as those I have experienced with Volkswagen, Peugeot and Mini, I now have the possibility to do exceptional things with Audi. As with the alternative manufacturers, I need to move all the manner and set a brand new precedent with the aid of doing it with a hybrid automobile.
It have to come as no marvel that Sainz is decided to flavor yet greater achievement. The veteran driving force won two World Rally Championship drivers' titles with Toyota in 1990 and 1992, and secured ninety seven podium finishes at some stage in his 18-12 months stint in WRC. So can his success in rallying be as compared along with his profession in rally raid? "They are two completely one of a kind specialities and I think they must be analysed in a extraordinary manner,” he says.
The first degree, that of the rallies, became very powerful. Dakar Rally Live I continually desired to be the primary Spaniard to win the world title and now I am taking up new demanding situations, year after yr, just like the mission we are now dealing with with Audi. Working with a brand of this calibre is tremendous and I am clearly taking part in this challenge, where the whole thing is new and offers new technology. While I've constantly taken into consideration myself a rally driver, I'm like a kid in new shoes at this stage of my profession.
