Audi pulled a surprise move today when it announced that it would compete in the 2022 Dakar Rally, the Audi to Dakar Rally news came from Germany along with more exciting information regarding a return to endurance racing.

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The company, which just exited from the DTM series, will enter the famous off-road race for the very first time, with a prototype buggy that will feature an electric drivetrain with a high-voltage battery and an energy converter. Audi says that cross-country rallying will be the spearhead of the factory motorsport commitment in the future.

Check out Audi’s most famous DTM racecars at this link.

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Audi’s new racer will be powered by an electric drivetrain. The energy required for this comes from a high-voltage battery, which will be charged as required while driving via a TFSI engine. Audi aims to permanently improve the performance of the electric drivetrain and the battery in the years to come. The experience gained in this process will then be incorporated into the further development of future electrified production models.

Click here to read about the classic class that has been added to the 2021 Dakar Rally.

Audi has prior experience with hybrid racing in the shape of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro, which remained unbeaten at the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times in a row. Since 2014, Audi has also been competing in the fully-electric Formula E series. After six years, the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team is the most successful team in the history of Formula E with 43 podium finishes, including twelve victories. The team also won the drivers’ title in 2017 and the teams’ title in the first season on a factory level in 2018. The works Audi team will leave Formula E after the 2021 season.

Watch the Audi e-tron R18 in the most awesome motorsport video you’re likely to ever view.

In his own words

“A multifaceted commitment to motorsport is and will remain an integral part of Audi’s strategy,” says Markus Duesmann, chairman of the board of management at Audi AG. “We want to continue demonstrating the brand’s slogan ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ in international top-level motorsport in the future and develop innovative technologies for our road cars. The toughest rally in the world is the perfect stage for this.”

“In addition, we are evaluating other possible fields of activity for us in international motorsport,” says Julius Seebach, managing director of Audi Sport GmbH. “In doing so, we have our customers’ wishes in mind as much as the company’s future strategy, which is clearly focused on electrification and carbon-neutral mobility. This is why we are intensively preparing to enter the new sports prototype category LMDh with its highlight races, the Daytona 24 Hours and Le Mans 24 Hours. The most important message for our fans is that motorsport will continue to play an important role at Audi.”