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
“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.”
Véhicule
TEAM AUDI SPORT
AUDI RS Q E-TRON E2
TEAM AUDI SPORT
- Marque AUDI
- Modèle RS Q E-TRON E2
- Préparateur Audi Sport
- Assistance Audi Sport
- Classe T1.U : Voitures Tout-Terrain Prototypes "Ultimate"
Classement 2023
Toute l'actualité de M. Ekstrom
Mattias Ekström : « ces gars ont dix ans d’expérience »
3e du jour à 6’31’’ de Loeb, le dernier pilote Audi en course profite du passage dans l’Empty Quarter pour faire un stage intensif de dunes.
« C’est un terrain très difficile pour moi avec des dunes, des dunes et des dunes. Il y avait quelques parties pas évidentes en navigation, je ne...
Mattias Ekstrom : « Je poursuis mon apprentissage »
Deuxième à trois minutes de Sébastien Loeb, Mattias Ekström décroche à l’occasion de la douzième étape un deuxième podium de rang. Dernier pilote Audi en course, le Suédois remonte ainsi à la neuvième place du classement général provisoire.
Ekström, seul pilote Audi
Mattias Ekström est désormais le seul pilote au volant d’une Audi RS Q e-tron E2 encore en course. Le Suédois est bien décidé à se distinguer. Au km 42, il compte tout juste une minute de retard sur Sébastien Loeb. Son retard passe à près de 2’ au pointage suivant, mais il semble bien déterminé...
Mattias Ekström : « On a été un peu trop prudents »
Dernier pilote Audi encore en course, Mattias Ekström s’est offert un nouveau podium à l’occasion de la première partie de l’étape marathon. Une troisième place qui récompense le Suédois pour son abnégation…
"La journée était ok. On...
Mattias Ekström : « revenir plus fort dans le futur »
Dernier pilote Audi encore en course depuis l’abandon hier de Sainz, Ekström prenait le départ de la première étape 100% dunes de sa carrière. Le Suédois termine 2e du jour.
« La voiture va très bien dans les dunes mais pour moi c’était la première fois, donc j’ai...
Ekström perd du terrain
Attendu à l’ASS pour connaître la composition de podium, Mattias Ekström vient juste de passer au km 318 avec le quatrième temps et plus de 3’ de retard sur Guerlain Chicherit, lequel devrait confirmer la troisième place de la spéciale du jour.
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