The German premium manufacturer Audi made history in Abu Dhabi in the second round of the FIA World Rally Raid Championship. An overall victory for the Audi RS Q e-tron, driven by Stéphane Peterhansel and Edouard Boulanger, saw the first success for a vehicle with an electric drive recorded in this competition. After a flawless drive, the experienced French drivers cruised home with an enormous lead of almost half an hour over the competitors at the finish of the Desert Challenge held at the beginning of March.

After securing four stage wins in the Dakar Rally in January, the teams at Audi Sport GmbH and Q Motorsport took their success to a new level. Developed in a very short time, the race car braved conditions even harsher than those experienced in the renowned Dakar event. Even the extreme air temperatures, at times eclipsing more than 40 degrees Celsius, did not cause the systems to falter.

In addition to the alternative drive concept of an electric drive train, high-voltage battery and highly efficient energy converter, LSP's innovative braking system also proved its worth over a course of more than 1800 kilometers, peppered with unpredictable dune passages.

The ever-reliable system covered the entire distance without complaint. This can certainly not be taken as given, especially with a project still in its infancy. Nevertheless, the team is committed to driving further developments of the prototype. The next test will come in June at the latest, at the Andalucía Rally in southern Spain from June 6 - 12.