2022 Audi Dakar Racer Teaser Released, Formula E Exit Announced

Audi has released a teaser image of its 2022 Dakar Rally racer which is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

The high-voltage battery pack in the vehicle will be paired with a “highly efficient” TFSI engine which will act as the generator to recharge the battery while driving.

2022 Audi Dakar racer teaser shows us that looks-wise, it will sport thin head lamps, an illuminated grille, highly raked windscreen, small glass area, and big off-road tyres.

According to the German carmaker, the knobby-wheeled “innovative prototype” will be used as a test bed to improve the performance of its electric drivetrain and battery.

Eventually, Audi is expected to bring this technology to its road cars after thorough development at the Dakar Rally and motorsports in general.

Also, the Dakar Rally will replace Formula E on Audi’s racing event competition list after the 2021 season.

So far, Audi has raked in 12 victories (43 podium finishes overall), a driver’s title in 2017 and the constructor’s title in 2018 in its pretty successful Formula E campaign that began in 2014.

However, the firm will continue to take part in motorsport and is preparing to enter the new sports prototype category LMDh at the Daytona 24 Hours and Le Mans 24 Hours races.

To be held in Saudi Arabia in early January 2021, the next Dakar Rally will see 321 vehicles – 124 cars and SSVs, 108 motorcycles, 42 trucks, 26 “classic” vehicles and 21 quads – participate and cover over 7646 km, starting and ending in Jeddah.