Stéphane Peterhansel: « Everything Audi learns on the Dakar will be used to develop the future F1 engine »

Read also: Stéphane Peterhansel: « My goal is to win the Dakar 2023 »

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Tell us about the functioning of the hybrid engine that propels the Audi RS Q e-tron.

On the Dakar, we have a lot of recuperation that recharges the batteries. The internal combustion engine is only used to charge the batteries. This means that whatever we charge during braking is what the internal combustion engine doesn’t need to recharge. The more we recharge during braking, the less we use the internal combustion engine to charge the batteries, the less fuel we use, and the less fuel we use, the lighter we can go.

Recovery is an important aspect for two things, battery recharging and braking quality. We brake approximately 90% on the electric motors and the rest using hydraulic brakes because it is mandatory by regulations. The braking performed on the electric motors is much more efficient than with hydraulic brakes, which is a strong point of our car. With braking on the electric motors, we can have completely different and adjustable distribution depending on the speed at which we are driving.

On a Rally-Raid cars, braking is generally done at 60% on the front wheels and 40% on the rear wheels, meaning there is more braking power in the front than in the rear. With electric motors, this percentage can be adjusted according to the speed. This means that at very high speeds, more braking power is applied to the front, around 65%, to create a significant transfer, while only 35% is applied to the rear. As the speed decreases, at 100, 80, 50, 40 km/h, the distribution is changed and less braking power is applied to the front, only 50%.

So, by being more towards the rear, it’s a bit like having a handbrake on when going through slow turns at 40 or 50 km/h, which makes the car pivot more easily. Progressive braking based on speed, brake distribution between the front and rear, is only possible with electric motor brakes. With hydraulic brakes, it’s much more complicated, if not impossible.

Audi recently announced its commitment to Formula 1 starting from the 2026 season. What could be the contribution of the technologies that you are currently developing for the Dakar to the future Audi engine in F1?

Today, with the Rally Raid and the Dakar, Audi is learning a lot about braking, recovery, recharging, but also the performance of braking on electric engines. Even if these are not things that can be directly applied to an F1 car, they are things that can help in the development of future engines.

Overall, when talking about F1 or road cars, they intersect at some point or another. Everything we gather in competition can certainly guide Audi in the development of any type of car. So it’s not just time and money spent solely on the Dakar, it’s also about constantly learning more about these new technologies.

Do you think that hybridization is the future of motorsport, especially in Rally-Raid?

Audi has been involved in it for a long time, especially at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the dominance they had in the 2010s. They already had excellent hybrid systems at that time. So, it’s not something new in motorsport.

Audi recently decided against participating in Endurance racing, unlike many other manufacturers, in order to focus on its Formula 1 program. So what could be the future of Audi in the Dakar Rally?

This is a three-year program, somewhat similar to what Peugeot had proposed between 2015 and 2018, with an extra year. For now, we are still sticking to three years. Programs like Formula 1 don’t leave much room for other disciplines. The Dakar program will likely come to an end, unless it is taken over by a satellite team.

What will happen to the Audi Sport personnel currently involved in the Dakar program?

The Dakar Rally is one thing, Formula 1 is ten times more powerful in terms of personnel and human resources, maybe even fifteen, twenty or thirty times. It’s completely different. We are already seeing some people who have worked on the development of the Dakar car leaving to work on the Formula 1 program. It’s not really a problem for us because the program was already underway and all the development had been completed.

Will Audi and Stéphane Peterhansel stop at the same time on the Dakar?

We will see. It may not be a joint ending. As for me, it will all depend on my result in the next Dakar. What is certain is that Audi will at least fulfill its commitment until 2024. We can see how Audi’s entry into Formula 1 is being prepared. We recently had dinner with Markus Duesmann, the CEO of Audi, with whom we discussed F1. He responded that they would need all the resources and focus on Formula 1.

Can we say that a seat has already been reserved for you in the future Audi team in F1?

No, we didn’t talk about that (laughs). I think they are still far from considering recruiting the drivers. If anyone might push for it, it would be Carlos Sainz for his son! But well, I think the son of Carlos is happy to be at Ferrari. We didn’t discuss the drivers. There are still a few championships to be played before 2026. Some will have retired and there will be young ones, so no idea, especially if there will be any French drivers.