The 2024 Dakar ended with the victory of Carlos Sainz who made history with an electric car

He made history in the middle of the desert. In a sea of ​​sand, where the horizon is lost among the infinite dunes, Carlos Sainz It has increased its image in motorsports around the world. He won the Dakar, the most challenging race on the planet, at 61 years old. No other driver his age has achieved a similar award in the main motorsport category. He has in fact increased the record obtained 4 years ago, when he won at 57 years old, becoming the oldest driver to obtain it, when the Dakar landed in the Middle East.

But apart from the figure of Sainz, former world rally champion, his car is nothing more. That car also entered the great history of mobility, becoming the first hybrid and electric vehicle to win the legendary competition.

Sainz, aboard a Audi RSQ e-tron, won the 2024 edition with a peculiarity: he did not win any stage. He came second on three occasions, which demonstrates the strategy, care and technique of the driver and team to win the precious Touareg, but never be the winner of the 13 stages, including the Prologue.

The vehicle is fantastic. With a buzz that can be heard just a few meters awaythe futuristic and disruptive design increases its magnetism to arouse amazement and admiration.

The mechanics are complex: the wheels are driven by electric batteries, which in turn are powered by a combustion engine. Complete engineering to manage and overcome the inconveniences faced in a Dakar, which are countless and intense.

The German company’s project aroused opposition and criticism. The management had to consider a fundamental aspect in the world of the Dakar: reliability. In the first two years Audi remained empty-handed. And the reproaches intensified.

But the latest version of the German company has given an evolution to the vehicle, to provide it with the reliability it needed.

Gradually, the rivals fell. Outside and inside the team, since then Stephane Peterhansel and Mattias Ekstrom They suffered from problems that sidelined them from the fight for the lead.

But even outside the Audi sphere the problems multiplied. First, Nasser Al Attiyah, who had left Toyota to use one of the Hunters and be Sebastien Loeb’s teammate. He “Dakar Messi”as he confessed Clarion Due to the results obtained in the last 5 years, he lost the rhythm of the race, until finally abandoning it.

Loeb himself, who had cut his times in the second week, broke the suspension arm of the right front wheel and said goodbye to any possibility.

So, Sainz was left alone in front. “The truth is, sometimes you want to go slower to take care of the car, and the tires break anyway. This demonstrates the toughness of this race, which can slap you in the face at the least unexpected moment.”Sainz commented as he celebrated his victory at the finish of the special stage, 100 kilometers north of Yanbú, on a beautiful coast where the waters of the Red Sea shine with an incredible turquoise color.

I was waiting for him there Carlos Sainz Jr., the Ferrari Formula 1 driver, who couldn’t stop praising his father. “Such validity at 61 is enviable. One day I too will race a Dakar,” he anticipated.

Sainz shared these 15 days of adventures and maximum demands Luca Croce, another historic rally. The Catalan navigator, who often discusses football with Sainz, a Real Madrid fan, contributed his experience to guide the electric Audi with directions and a map of the route.

With this victory, Carlos Sainz climbs onto the historic winners’ podium in the car category. Stéphane Peterhansel achieved 8 results; Nasser Al-Attiyah, 5 wins and Carlos Sainz equaled Ari Vatanen, with 4 wins.

The great peculiarity of Sainz is that his four successes were obtained with four different brands: in 2010 with Volkswagen, in 2018 with Peugeot; in 2020 with Mini and now, in 2024, with Audi.

The Matador does not waste his mornings. He shows your talent and returns victoriously to the ring to continue making world sports history. Only he will say how long he will continue in the demanding world of international motorsport.

How the Argentinians fared in the Dakar

In addition to the victory of Manuel Andújar the Argentinians participated in this Dakar 2024 on quadricycles. In recent days it has been the protagonist Nicola Cavigliassowhich won two stages in the Challenger category.

Although he was not fighting for the victory, due to the failure of the differential after the rest day (he finished 9th), his partial victories place him in a privileged position in the World Championship of the specialty, which begins every year with the Dakar.

In older cars, the Mendoza Juan Cruz Yacopini He achieved excellent stages, with a third and seventh place, although several problems with his Toyota Hilux delayed him, sending him back down the standings. In the end he placed 19th,

On the motorbike, the Benavides brothers put in an excellent performance, which was not reflected in the results. They had to face several inconveniences, which gives value to their arrival in goal. Professionalism for Salta’s competitive drivers is not enough.

Kevin, who came to defend last year’s victory, suffered a broken left leg on December 3. With a record recovery, he started the Dakar and achieved excellent performances, winning stages 3, 8 and the last. The KTM rider was in fourth place overall, 38 minutes off the lead.

His younger brother, Luciano, finished in seventh place. The engine failure and the 15 minute penalty for changing it with another eliminated him from any fight. Likewise, he tried to fight, although he admitted that the team (KTM hosts the team of that brand, Husqvarna and Gas Gas) is a step behind rivals, especially Honda, which took the Touareg from the hands of the North American Ricky Brabec.

The other Argentines did an exceptional job, depending on the objectives set. The Riojano Diego Llanos ranked 5th in the final stage and ranked 19th, in his horizon since he intended to enter the Top 20.

Rookie Santiago Rostan was 38th. Enormous potential for the boy from Neuquén, who has already promised that the second Dakar will arrive. And finally, Santiago Urquía of Córdoba, who suffered a serious blow in the first stage, but far from giving up, continued and finished in 67th place.