After its debut in the Dakar Rally, Audi clinched a historic victory at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge with Stephane Peterhansel. Peterhansel has won the event eight times since 1996, but this is his first with Audi and electric RS Q-etron. Peterhansel took the early lead on day one of the rally and never looked back.
This is the first time a car with an electric powertrain has won a desert rally. Audi’s managing director for motorsport says conditions at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge were tougher than January’s Dakar Rally.
The only setback for the team was on day two with a tire puncture. The team kept the lead throughout.
