Mattias Ekstrom has said he is willing to contest the Dakar Rally for the next 15 years if that is what it takes to win the world’s most prestigious rally-raid.
Although best known for his success in the DTM where he claimed two titles with Abt Audi, Ekstrom has increasingly shifted his focus to avenues outside of circuit racing in recent years.
After success in the World Rallycross Championship, he won the 2016 title with his own EKS squad, the Swede made his Dakar debut aboard a Yamaha lightweight prototype in 2021 before moving up to the top class the following year with Audi’s new hybrid challenger.
Holding his own against rally legends Stephane Peterhansel and Carlos Sainz Sr, Ekstrom tallied up four stage wins and scored a best finish of ninth despite being beset by technical problems during the three years of the Audi RS Q e-tron programme.
Now switching to Ford’s new rally-raid project with the Raptor T1, the 46-year-old said he would not settle for anything less than a victory in Dakar, even if that takes another 15 attempts.
“I’m trying to have a perfect Dakar, that’s my dream,” Ekstrom told Motorsport.com Netherlands. “I will keep fighting until I win it. Whether that takes one, two, 10 or 15 years, it doesn’t matter. I will continue until I have won.”
Stephane Peterhansel, Team Audi Sport, Mattias Ekstrom, Team Audi Sport and Carlos Sainz Sr, Team Audi Sport
Photo by: Audi Communications Motorsport
Ekstrom cited the example of team-mate Sainz Sr, who became the oldest driver to win Dakar after triumphing for the fourth time this year at the age of 61.
“So theoretically I still have 15 years to go,” he quipped. “Carlos is slightly older than me. I have to see if I’m still as good [then], but we still have 15 chances!
“[If I win] I might come back, but I can guarantee that I won’t go for Stephane Peterhansel’s record [of 14 wins, including eight in cars]. Those are a bit too far away, but winning once would be great for me.”
Ekstrom’s third appearance in Dakar’s top class with Audi unraveled after the mid-rally rest day, as numerous technical issues with the RS Q e-tron left him out of the running for overall victory.
He was running second at the halfway point of the rally, 20 minutes behind team-mate and eventual winner Sainz Sr.
However, Ekstrom says the troubles he faced this year won’t change his approach for 2025, as he plans to turn the wick up again in the second half…
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