Rally legend Carlos Sainz won the Dakar Rally's third stage on Tuesday for Audi.
But the win was a genuine milestone for the German manufacturer as well as in the history of the grueling rally-raid event as it marked the first stage victory for a hybrid-electric car.
The technological feat achieved by Audi's RS Q e-tron prototype was also the 40th career stage win for Sainz, a triple winner of the Dakar.
"Today is an important day, especially after what happened on the first day and if you had told me 12 months ago I would have doubted," Sainz senior told Marca.
"But I am very happy to help the Audi team to achieve this historic victory with so much hard work behind it. They were expecting it and now they are very happy because they were really looking forward to this first win."
©Audi
Needless to say, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr who is watching his father's exploits in Saudi Arabia from afar was particularly proud of his dad's success.
"40 Dakar stage wins but the first one in history with a hybrid electrically powered car for
@CSainz_oficial!" he wrote on social media.
"I know this one is going to feel special for him. A lot of hard work behind the scenes. Congrats!"
40 Dakar stage wins but the first one in history with a hybrid electrically powered car for @CSainz_oficial ! I know this one is going to feel special for him. A lot of hard work behind the scenes. Congrats! 💪
— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) January 4, 2022
