5-time Dakar winner Al-Attiyah is trying to defend his crown driving for Prodrive following a transfer from Toyota.
Talking forward of this 12 months’s version, which begins on Friday, Al-Attiyah was requested if he thought Audi can be his important menace.
Audi is about to profit from an FIA stability of efficiency shift within the T1.U class for prototype vehicles utilizing renewable energies – which incorporates the Audi RS Q e-tron E2 – that may see entries granted an extra 15kW, price 21 horsepower.
It prompted a blunt reply: “Audi? I give them simply three days and they’re going to go residence, you noticed it in Morocco and Aragon after 100 kilometres.”
Three-time Dakar winner Sainz has now issued a retort to Al-Attiyah’s claims, stating “he [Nasser] is free to assume”.
Photograph by: Audi
Audi RS Q e-tron
Chatting with media in Saudi Arabia forward of the occasion, together with Motorsport.com, the Spaniard says that he has nothing however victory on his thoughts.
“I dream of getting a great race and having a great rally,” stated Sainz. “That is just a little bit the sensation now, making an attempt to visualise now in a constructive approach what can occur each day, with the Prologue.
“You make your technique, after which, relying on the way you exit [after the Prologue], you visualise how you desire to the race to go.
“I would wish to see it [Audi] up there, combating from the primary second with the entrance, and that is simple to know at this stage when the race hasn’t even began, you are making ready all 12 months to search for that situation, the place you battle till the tip to win it.”
Though various rivals are set to problem Audi, the two-time WRC champion insisted that his marque was “courageous” to proceed competing within the desert after battling points final 12 months.
“It was a tricky 12 months, greater than we’d have favored to get there, with races with issues, however I additionally see the constructive aspect,” he added.
“I feel that what occurred within the Baja Aragon and Morocco won’t occur to us now. It’s a must to be very courageous to convey this automobile and make it race, and that is why a stage win or combating for victory within the Dakar with it’s so particular.”
