After a grueling challenge spanning a total of 7891 kilometers, including 4727 timed, Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz have sealed their victory for the fourth time in the Dakar saga. Following their triumphs in South America in 2010 and 2018, behind the wheels of the Volkswagen Tuareg and the Peugeot 3008 respectively, the Spanish duo repeated their feat in 2020, at the debut of the rally raid in Saudi Arabia, with the Mini X-Raid. Now, they add another chapter of glory adorned with Audi's colors, becoming the first crew to conquer the Dakar aboard a hybrid vehicle.
Sainz's victory marked the climax of Audi's final performance on the sands of the world's most famous rally raid. As the 46th edition of the Dakar concluded, Audi will bid farewell to the program in favor of returning to Formula 1 starting from 2026. It's a bitter ending, considering that the RS Q e-tron finally reached a level of reliability on its third attempt, an aspect that had been lacking in previous editions. With power driven by electric motors, derived from those used in Formula E, and a 2-liter engine from the DTM acting as a range extender, the Audi prototype represents the perfect synthesis of the experience accumulated in these years of motorsport successes.
But triumph wasn't just a matter of technical means; the Dakar is also won with a well-coordinated team, and this year, the Audi team demonstrated near-perfect excellence. Starting with the Sainz-Cruz duo, who, despite not winning a single stage, made consistency their main weapon. With very few errors and impeccable driving supported by precise navigation, the Spanish duo seized the lead after the daunting Marathon stage and never relinquished it until the finish line in Yanbu on the shores of the Red Sea.
Mattias Ekström and Stéphane Peterhansel weren't just teammates for Sainz; they were true guardian angels. Despite securing several stage victories, both had to surrender due to technical issues with their Audi vehicles. Out of the fight for overall victory, Ekström and Peterhansel played the role of support, aiding Sainz's triumphant march. Their contribution was evident in the tenth stage when they assisted the Spaniard after he suffered a double puncture.
The finish line in Yanbu was a festive scene for Overdrive Racing, a private team that overcame the formidable Toyota Gazoo Racing squad. In the final stage, Guillame De Mevius and navigator Xavier Panseri managed to hold off Sebastien Loeb's charge to secure second place overall. The fourth-place finish of Guerlain Chicherit and Alex Winocq further highlighted the efficiency and professionalism with which the Belgian team managed the Toyota Hilux fleet, despite the disappointment of Yazeed Al Rajhi, forced to retire after a rollover in the Marathon stage.
The Dakar continued to be a treacherous test for Loeb. Guided by his faithful co-driver Fabian Lurquin, the nine-time WRC champion was the only one to challenge Sainz. Like the previous edition, Loeb won the most stages, including the final one in Yanbu covering 175 kilometers. However, the reliability of the Prodrive Hunter faltered at a crucial moment when the front right suspension gave way in the penultimate stage. The third-place finish was a disappointment for the French driver.
The team change didn't bring luck to Nasser Al-Attiyah. The winner of the last two editions with the Toyota Hilux pickup, the Qatari faced the 2024 Dakar with Prodrive's buggy. Except for winning the fifth stage, it was a complete disaster. Plagued by various technical issues, including suspension failure, Al-Attiyah had to retire when the engine of his Hunter gave out.
The official Toyota Gazoo Racing team didn't fare any better. Defeated by Audi and Prodrive and overshadowed by Overdrive Racing, they exited Dakar 2024 significantly diminished. Although the Hilux proved to be the most reliable vehicle among cars, as evidenced by six pickups finishing in the top ten, Guy David Botteril's sixth-place finish left a bitter taste. Giniel De Villiers, Benediktas Vanagas, and the unlucky Lucas Moraes followed their teammate in the final standings.
Special mention goes to Martin Prokop and Viktor Chytka, who finished fifth overall with the Ford Raptor from the Orlean Jipocar team. The Czech crew surpassed the official Ford M-Sport team, present at Dakar with experienced drivers Nani Roma and Gareth Woolridge, in an exploratory role in preparation for the next season when the new Raptor pickup will debut.
Closing out the top 10 were Mathieu Serradori and Loic Minaudier. Despite the less powerful CR6-T with only two-wheel drive, the French duo from the Century Racing Factory fought at the forefront of the overall standings for a long time. After finishing fourth in the tenth stage, the French pair of Eugenio Amos and Paolo Ceci, victims of a frightening but fortunately harmless incident in the current stage, closed out Dakar 2024 in thirty-first place overall with the Toyota Hilux from Overdrive Racing.
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