N°211 Car TEAM AUDI SPORT

MATTIAS EKSTROM

(swe)

Sponsors

Audi, Q Motorsport, Red Bull

2022: 9th (1 stage win)
2021: ab. Stage 7 (T3 Yamaha)

2022: ETCR, Rally du Maroc
2021: WRC
2016 : World Rallycross champion
2009 : Race of champions (1st)
2007 : DTM champion / Race of champions (1st)
2006 : Race of champions (1st)
2004 : DTM champion

Interview

“A lot more than only driving”

Put Mattias Ekstrom in a car whatever the terrain, and there’s a pretty good chance that he’ll be competitive. Born in Sweden, the passion for motorsports came rapidly on all sorts of vehicles in the vast open spaces of his native land. Glory came later. Two DTM titles, a World Rallycross championship, 3-time winner of the Race of Champions and more recently the first ever Pure ETCR series champion. The choice of having Ekstrom in the Dakar project was a natural one. He is indeed an Audi “child” having done all his career with the legendary German brand. But before sitting behind the wheel of the RS Q e-tron, the 43-year-old had a first taste of the Dakar in 2021 when he took part in the rally in a Yamaha T3. Although tough, it would be an eye-opening experience. Despite failing to finish, he at least knew what he was up for. Ekstrom, the eternal enthusiast made the historic debut of his team even sweeter by capturing stage 8 just five days after his team mate Carlos Sainz opened the way. The Swede then went on to finish best placed of the Audi drivers by making it just into the Top ten of his second Dakar (9th). In a redesigned and lighter RS Q e-Tron, Ekstrom will again make the best of the tips of his prestigious team mates Sainz and Peterhansel and can hope to surprise by already going for overall victory with his usual partner Emil Bergkvist.


S.P. : “I grew up in Sweden where you have so much space and many opportunities to drive a car if you like it. We have much more land. On top of this I also had the garage of my father. If it’s a rally car, a rallycross car, a buggy, a go kart, a quad, a jetski or actually anything I try to have a lot of fun. During my circuit racing career, I’ve always tried to do different projects. I’ve done some WRC rallies. I did Nascar. I tried an LMP car at Le Mans and also a lot of rallycross in the World Championship. One of my biggest and nicest trophy’s is the race of champions I won three times as an individual, against Michael Schumacher twice and once against Sebastien Loeb.
My first Dakar in the Yamaha SSV was an adventure in many ways. It was great to learn the road book, to learn the nature, to learn the type of the rally, I think it’s the base. Last year I also started to enjoy that this sport is a lot more than only driving. You have to use your brain. Someday you'll be pushing a lot on a very simple road. So the mixture of it all, I think is was what makes this sport so unique. And once I start to understand, I also see the challenge. And you also have to be very.
The first part of the rally to come looks to be in the areas where I have some experience, but when it comes down into an Empty Quarter and there's only sand, that's a new region for me. So I think that will be very exciting. Also with the marathon day there. I think we have the car, the team, and for sure with Stephane and Carlos also the experienced drivers to win. If I can have a couple of good days and stay out of trouble maybe some days we can also show that we are fast. But to look at the overall picture for Audi, I think definitely we are much more ready this year compared to the first time. And in the last testing we did, they asked me, 'What are your wishes?' I said I have no more wishes left, it's to go home and do my own preparation and just wait for the Dakar to start.”


S.P. : “I grew up in Sweden where you have so much space and many opportunities to drive a car if you like it. We have much more land. On top of this I also had the garage of my father. If it’s a rally car, a rallycross car, a buggy, a go kart, a quad, a jetski or actually anything I try to have a lot of fun. During my circuit racing career, I’ve always tried to do different projects. I’ve done some WRC rallies. I did Nascar. I tried an LMP car at Le Mans and also a lot of rallycross in the World Championship. One of my biggest and nicest trophy’s is the race of champions I won three times as an individual, against Michael Schumacher twice and once against Sebastien Loeb.
My first Dakar in the Yamaha SSV was an adventure in many ways. It was great to learn the road book, to learn the nature, to learn the type of the rally, I think it’s the base. Last year I also started to enjoy that this sport is a lot more than only driving. You have to use your brain. Someday you'll be pushing a lot on a very simple road. So the mixture of it all, I think is was what makes this sport so unique. And once I start to understand, I also see the challenge. And you also have to be very.
The first part of the rally to come looks to be in the areas where I have some experience, but when it comes down into an Empty Quarter and there's only sand, that's a new region for me. So I think that will be very exciting. Also with the marathon day there. I think we have the car, the team, and for sure with Stephane and Carlos also the experienced drivers to win. If I can have a couple of good days and stay out of trouble maybe some days we can also show that we are fast. But to look at the overall picture for Audi, I think definitely we are much more ready this year compared to the first time. And in the last testing we did, they asked me, 'What are your wishes?' I said I have no more wishes left, it's to go home and do my own preparation and just wait for the Dakar to start.”

Vehicle

TEAM AUDI SPORT

AUDI RS Q E-TRON E2
TEAM AUDI SPORT

  • AUDI
  • RS Q E-TRON E2
  • Audi Sport
  • Audi Sport
  • T1.U: "Ultimate" Prototype Cross-Country Cars

Ranking 2023

All news of M. Ekstrom

Reactions - 14/01 12:33 [GMT +3] - Car

Mattias Ekström: "These guys have ten years of experience"

Third on the day, 6'31" behind Loeb, the last Audi driver left in the race is taking the Empty Quarter as a crash course in dune-jumping.

 

"This terrain is very difficult for me, with dunes, dunes and more dunes. There were a few parts that were not easy to navigate, I don't know if we found the fastest trajectories, but Sébastien...

Reactions - 13/01 11:32 [GMT +3] - Car

Mattias Ekstrom: “I think it’s a good school for me, driving here”

 Mattias Ekström finished second three minutes behind Sébastien Loeb and picked up a second consecutive podium on a special on stage twelve. The Swede is the last Audi driver in the race and climbs up to ninth place in the provisional general rankings.  

 “It’s not much – I would say it’s...

Newsflashes - 13/01 10:05 [GMT +3] - Car

Ekström all alone for Audi

Mattias Ekström is now the only driver behind the wheel of an Audi RS Q e-tron E2 still in the race. The Swede has the firm intention to distinguish himself. After 42 km, he was only one minute behind Sébastien Loeb. At the next time check point, the gap had increased to 2 minutes, but he seems well and truly determined to fight for a place on the day’s...

Reactions - 12/01 16:43 [GMT +3] - Car

Mattias Ekström: “I just feel I was too careful on this terrain”

 Mattias Ekström, the last Audi driver in the race, again obtained a podium place for the first part of the marathon stage. This third placed finish is a reward for the Swede’s abnegation…  

 “We had an okay day. I just feel I was too careful on this terrain. It’s the first time I’ve seen...

Reactions - 11/01 15:35 [GMT +3] - Bike

Mattias Ekström: "Come back stronger in the future"

Ekström, the last Audi driver in the race since Sainz withdrew yesterday, finished second in the first 100% dunes stage of his career.

"The car is great on the dunes, but for me it was the first time, so I was careful not to make a stupid mistake in the first part, and the other part was fine. It's not the race we were expecting. We came...

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