Road to Dakar 2024: Season 3 Episode 4 | Origins​

Join Mattias Ekström and team Audi Sport as they continue their preparations for the race ahead. In the latest episode of our Road to Dakar 2024 series, Mattias unveils how his time with Audi has shaped him into the driver he is today.

Experience the electrifying connection between him and Audi, blending skill, determination and a passion for motorsport excellence on the challenging stages leading to Dakar.​

Watch the whole season ‘Road to Dakar 2024’: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjUGX1CoBABkeCXS_RZxO0YHSrpPwR1Tr

Watch Mattias Ekström’s Keys to Progress for the Dakar Rally 2024: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjUGX1CoBABnOcVsopSHJo6PSG-mLHvLV

#Audi #RoadtoDakar #AudiDakar #RSQetron ​
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*The vehicle shown is not available as production model. Professional driver, closed event. Do not attempt.

I think the trip towards those big dreams and big championships is what made us who we are. When I come to this place, it’s always a strange, emotional thing because I remember the first time I was here, there was no car for me here. I think I’m one of the longest

Audi factory drivers there are. I had a great journey all the way. It started with me being champion in a Swedish touring car in 99, then DTM, the first one in 2004. Mattias Ekström wins the 2004 DTM Championship with the Audi A4. That chapter is only starting for this incredible young talent

It was just a fantastic feeling to show that the first one wasn’t luck only. Second one in 2007. Ekström takes his second DTM championship with Audi. And then being Rallycross world champion in 16. To go there and drive this actually turned out to be the greatest time of my career with my team,

A lot of Swedish friends and some German engineering on top of it with all the family members from Audi Sport. That was giving goose bumps for a long time and still does. Going to the desert. It was a big challenge. Mattias Ekström has his next challenge set,

The Dakar rally with Team Audi Sport. To hear the concept of the car. I thought that’s the wildest and craziest idea I’ve ever heard because it was so complex. Understood that this is going to be a real challenge. From day one, and when we started testing, we could easily see that

This is something really new. You feel that in pioneering entering a new concept into a very classical motorsport world like Rally Dakar. Being a part of the project was or is still the biggest challenge of my career. I’m sure when my son comes here

In 20 years, he will be very proud to see what I did and what I used to do. And I can tell you I’m very proud of this story.