e-tron on track

The five models from Audi for “e-tron on track”: the R18 e-tron quattro² from the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours, the Audi e-tron FE07⁶ from the seventh season of Formula E, the current Dakar Rally Prototype, the RS Q e-tron⁵, as well as the two show cars in the form of the e-tron Vision Gran Turismo³ and S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron⁴. Three of the five vehicles¹ for racing and action are ready to be driven on the circuit of the Competence Center Motorsport in Neuburg. At the wheel: the three Dakar Rally factory drivers, each of whom can choose a car from the exclusive e-tron range: Mattias Ekström, Stéphane Peterhansel and Carlos Sainz. Also participating in “e-tron on track”, but not on track, is the Audi RS e-tron GT⁷ – the purely electric flagship of Audi Sport GmbH is driving proof of the fascination of electromobility for customers all over the world.

For Stéphane Peterhansel, his car for “e-tron on track” is completely logical: “Formula 1, Le Mans and Dakar are monuments of motorsport. That’s why it was clear that I would choose the R18² today.” The initial anxiety in the extremely narrow cockpit quickly disappeared for the Frenchman, who is the record winner of the Dakar Rally. Then the off-road professional, who specializes in dune surfing, skillfully makes his way on the asphalt of the Audi test track. All steering and acceleration inputs are correct. Braking late is not the goal for anyone in Neuburg today. “Everything is incredibly direct and precise, especially the steering,” Stéphane Peterhansel shares his findings. “And the concept shows that the electric drivetrain pays off: you can clearly feel how the hybrid drivetrain provides additional acceleration.” An electric motor-generator unit (MGU) for the front axle and a turbodiesel V6 engine for the rear axle (TDI). With this hybrid concept of the R18 e-tron quattro², Audi began electrifying its drivetrains in motorsport in 2012. In the same year, the brand made history at Le Mans by becoming the first to win the race with a hybrid sports prototype.

Mattias Ekström could hardly wait for this reunion. The rallycross world champion and two-time DTM champion had previously only been able to try out the Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron⁴ on snow and ice. This exclusive show car is therefore the Swede’s first choice in Neuburg. The unique vehicle, which has fully electric four-wheel drive, was a special car that was created by Audi for the Hoonigan Electrikhana stunt driving of the legendary drift artist Ken Block. So, Tom Kristensen, the host of “e-tron on track” for Audi, cheers on his former DTM teammate: “Come on Mattias, get a few flies on the side windows!” Ekström flies away from a standstill. The third of Audi’s Dakar factory drivers takes the tight corners of the test course completely sideways and in complete control. After his “dry run” in the Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron⁴, Mattias Ekström is overflowing with driving pleasure: “Can I please keep driving? The power is so extreme that I could have drifted around the entire track. I have never experienced something like that.”