Supporting Audi in their bid for glory

On the Dakar, top drivers need competent fast assistance, and so Q Motorsport -the team set up by Sven Quandt and his sons to run the Audi RS Q e-tron programme- have once again enlisted the services of Michael Baumann in a MAN TGA 11 truck. The 53-year-old German took part in his first editions in 2013 and 2014, before returning in 2021 to help Stephane Peterhansel claim his record 14th Dakar title with the X-raid Mini JCW team. Michael also provided support to Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz and Mattias Ekstrom at Dakar 2022, as the Audi RS Q e-tron made its first appearance with mixed results; the three drivers picked up four stage wins between them, but only Ekstrom managed to finish inside the top 10 overall, with Sainz 12th and Peterhansel a distant 59th. Q Motorsport will be hoping they run into fewer mechanical issues with the second-generation Audi RS Q e-tron E2, but truck 535 will still be on hand to help out if necessary. As well as rescuing stranded competitors on the Dakar, Michael runs a motorcycle shop on the outskirts of Munich, providing service, advice and tours to budding offroad riders. For the third consecutive edition, he is joined by trusty navigator Philipp Beier, who first took part in the Dakar in 2011 as a mechanic for Andrea Mayer – better known these days as Andrea Peterhansel, Stephane's wife. Audi mechanic Sebastian Lindner comes in to complete the crew.