Mattias Ekström: “This terrain is not my home ground”

Dakar 2024 | Stage 6 | HAIL > AL DUWADIMI
January 12 ^th 2024 - 10:29 [GMT + 3]

The Swedish driver was third on the 48 HR chrono stage, almost 11’ behind Loeb but has allowed Audi to achieve a 1-2 at the top of the general rankings the day before the rest day.

“For me, it was very exhausting, not physically, but mentally, because this terrain is not my home ground, so to speak. I’m more used to snow and ice. Today was short, but also going early on the tracks with no marks on some steep dunes and some which were super soft, it was easy to take the wrong decisions. I got stuck once today and I think we lost six minutes or something, digging for a short moment. But yesterday was a very good day for us. Emil did a good job and helped me while I was driving and navigating. We are very happy to be here and results-wise, I haven’t seen it yet, but I saw that Nasser has had problems, I saw that Yasid had problems. Compared to the problems we had, we had much less. Touch wood, we are happy. I think we have had some good days. We’ve been able to compete at the front. I think it’s very difficult to navigate when you drive early on. Me and Emil had to try and find the right speed and navigation rhythm when we were going through the difficult valleys and so on, but generally we’re very happy so far and it’s just half time. I’m looking forward to a nice shower now!”