New uprights
Reinforced rims
New fastening elements for the uprights allow greater clearance so that the stones are thrown out more easily. At the same time, Audi Sport is using more robust rims from now on. Stronger sidewalls also make the new generation of tires, from the control tire supplier BF Goodrich, less vulnerable.
Extended frontal crash box
New seat foam
The CFRP crash box at the front end of the chassis structure is now longer, without compromising the angle of attack, which is so important in cross-country rallying. It now absorbs the energy generated during such accidents better than before.
Modified front bonnet
Improved shielding of the cockpit
Audi relies on particularly experienced, well-coordinated and high-performing drivers and co-drivers. To make their strenuous work easier, the engineers optimized the acoustic shielding, as well as sealing the cockpit. A modified front bonnet now better repels swirled mud and water, which allows the windshield to remain cleaner.
Weight optimization
Adjustment of the axle differentials
To get even closer to the minimum weight of 2,100 kilograms, while the weight of the new, more robust tires increases, various components have been optimized in terms of weight. This applies to the rear bonnet, as well as the smaller brake calipers, but also to the footrest for the co-driver.
Optimized filling cap devices
New locking solutions and connections
Modified bolted connections, improved tool holders, optimized filling cap devices for operating fluids, new locking solutions for body parts and bolted instead of glued connections all contribute to simpler and faster servicing.
the “EVs” in rally had been so slow, the regulators were asked (by whom? take a guess) to change the rules so that electric ‘race cars’ would look better. because at the end of the day, this ‘race car’ weighs over 2100kg (4629lbs). thats MORE than a luxury-pig, that is the bugatti chiron. so then, imagine my surprise, when i try to find what classification and results for this car in any of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge results, against the other competitors… then i find this gem:
“Dakar winner Nasser Al-Attiyah of Toyota Gazoo Racing dominated the Desert Challenge by winning every stage afterwards, but was eliminated from the overall victory after retiring from the first stage with damage from an “unlucky landing” which resulted in a major time penalty.”
so everyone, including the audi-s were being destroyed by the turbo awd gasoline toyota. until Nasser had a bad shunt.
reminds me of that time in 1995 in LeMans history when a McLaren F1 ‘won overall’ but when one looked at the lap results prior-year and after, you realize that the top competitors all wrecked.
1993 LeMans winner Peugeot 905 laps: 375
1994 LeMans winner Porsche 962 laps: 344
1995 LeMans winner McLaren F1 laps: 298
1996 LeMans winner Porsche 935 laps: 354
1997 LeMans winner Porsche 935 laps: 361
so then one wonders, so long as the toyota gazoo racing trucks piloted by Nasser, dont wreck. audi, or anyone else, will almost never win. much like mclaren, at lemans, after 1995.
“Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah and his French co-driver, Mathieu Baumel, successfully defended the Dakar title they won for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) in 2022, when they brought their GR DKR Hilux T1+ over the finish line of the final stage of Dakar 2023 on 15 January. The pair lost 5min 41sec to the stage winners, but that hardly mattered, as they sealed the overall victory with a winning margin of 1hr 20min 49sec.”
lol
WELL WELL WELL.
its bare spring of 2024.
audi just pulled out of dakar, citing ‘one-off parts shortages and up to 2 years for some parts’
a billion dollar motorsport company cant make parts for their race car?
audi-vw literally make electric cars. what parts could possibly take TWO YEARS to get???
in what world?
ohhhhhhhh. they mean some of the battery parts…
parts that likely only come from A123, CATL and panasonic.
lol.
ever heard of a LeMans prototype or F1 team or ANY other RACE CAR that has ever had to leave a racing circuit for any reason, other than wrecking?
what with the revelation that these 918 spyders, mclaren P1s, and laferrari-s, needing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of BASIC (non-racing) battery packs, even though some cars have barely 100km on them.
lol.
audi just proved, that BEVs is a joke.
meanwhile acres of dead batteries pile up and no one says anything.
what a clown world.
SO then also. over the winter, nasser, being completely dominant in a toyota. suddenly leaves the team…
and then suddenly audi wins.
but now they want to quit. cus they cant get parts.
lol. this whole charade is silly.