State-of-the-Art Audi Dakar Racer Discovered in a Czech Junkyard

      Audi

      Being labeled as “trash” is already a severe form of criticism, but actually being discarded in a dump elevates that disrespect to a whole new level. Reports from Czechia indicate that one of Audi’s most advanced racing vehicles has been unceremoniously abandoned in such a degrading location, prompting officials to investigate the circumstances surrounding it.

      Audi has a storied history in motorsports, from triumphs at Le Mans to Pikes Peak, showcasing their expertise in winning. A notable recent achievement includes their victory at the 2024 Dakar Rally, marking Audi's first title in this desert rally raid. However, this achievement would not have been possible without the innovative RS Q E-Tron, which was specifically designed for the 2022 race. This prototype rally truck represented a significant advancement for Audi in both racing and electric vehicle technology and was, at that time, their most complex racing machine ever created.

      Yet, this very vehicle has been found discarded in Jiríkov, Czechia.

      Local outlet Seznam Zpravy reports that parts from one of Audi’s debut Dakar rally vehicles were discovered in an illegal dumping site within a protected environmental zone. Found in bags labeled “plastic” were brake rotors, fiberglass aerodynamic components, and circuit boards from the RS Q E-Tron No. 224. Audi had entered three vehicles that year, with No. 224 achieving the highest finish at ninth place.

      Jiříkova Mayor Barbora Šišková informed a local news agency, “We discovered batteries there, battery cells that can be toxic. It’s 100% illegal because they’re stored in bags, which is not appropriate. Furthermore, they are marked as kunststoff [plastic], which is a blatant lie.”

      The Dakar vehicles employed three Formula E motor-generator units for their powertrains, supported by a DTM racing engine as a range extender. Although not a fully electric vehicle, the RS Q E-Tron earned Audi the distinction of being the first automaker to compete with an alternative powertrain in the Dakar Rally.

      “The development of this vehicle must have cost millions of euros,” Šišková noted. “Audi's management hired the German company Roth to dispose of the vehicle, and it ended up here with us.”

      Audi announced that an internal investigation is in progress, focusing on their compliance processes and environmental guidelines, which also apply to contractors. Roth International, a waste management company based in Germany, has been identified as an Audi contractor. However, the automaker has not clarified whether or why Roth was tasked with disposing of the competition EVs. The Dakar vehicles hold significant value and could have been preserved in a museum or maintained within Team Audi Sport.

      Audi released a statement saying: “In instances where supplier companies fail to implement the necessary measures or do not execute them completely, the business relationship may be terminated as a last resort.”

      The proper disposal of the hazardous car components is estimated to cost over 600 euros ($629 at the current exchange rate), along with the potential for additional fines and possible arrests. Šišková mentioned that a convoy of trucks has discarded at least 200 tons of lithium-ion batteries within the protected park. Road and Track reports that the Czech Environmental Inspectorate has already implicated a domestic plastic company in the dumping operation, resulting in a fine of 25 million Czech koruna ($1.05 million).

      Roth International is responsible for retrieving and returning the dumped waste to Germany. Thus far, at least five truckloads of waste have been cleared. The company is currently under scrutiny by both Czech and German authorities, with local law enforcement suggesting possible connections to organized crime.