Dacia announced its participation in the Dakar rally in the summer of 2023, and now it has presented a 359 hp car in which it will participate. In the near future, Sandrider will undergo a long series of tests in different countries. Making its first competitive run at the 2024 Morocco Rally, the Sandrider will use synthetic fuel produced by Saudi Aramco.

Inspired by the Manifesto concept car and created with the help of the Renault Group and Prodrive, the Sandrider will be homologated in the Ultimate T1+ category.

“The Sandrider is equipped with an engine that runs on synthetic fuel supplied by Aramco. It is a simple and affordable solution to reduce the impact on the environment. Aramco’s synthetic fuel is produced by combining renewable hydrogen with captured CO2, resulting in a low-carbon product compatible with modern engines. For the Dacia brand, the Dakar Rally is an ideal testing ground for this technology,” said Dacia representatives.

Dacia in Dakar – Team and rally

In the near future, Sandrider will undergo a long series of tests in different countries. The first competition will take place at the 2024 Morocco Rally, one of the events of the World Rally Championship (W2RC), which will be held from 5 to 11 October.

DACIA SANDRIDERS, the official team of the Dacia brand in W2RC, will participate in the first Dakar Rally and all stages of the World Rally Championship in 2025.

DACIA SANDRIDERS will consist of three crews, whose members are distinguished by their experience, talent and enthusiasm…

Sébastien Loeb (50) won the World Rally Championship 9 times in a row between 2004 and 2012. He is the most decorated driver in motorsport and is considered the greatest driver of all time. Sébastien Loeb is participating in the Dakar Rally 2016. His co-driver will be Fabian Lurken.

Cristina Gutiérrez Herrero is the first female rally driver from Spain to finish the Dakar Rally in the car category in 2017. At the age of 32, she has already participated in the Dakar rally 8 times from 2017 to 2024. Christina won the World Cross Country Cup. – Country rally, category T3, in 2021. In January 2024, she became the second woman to win the category (challenger) at the Dakar, after Jutta Kleinschmidt, who won the first overall. Christina’s co-pilot will be Pablo Moreno Huete.

Nasser al-Attiyah is a five-time winner of the Off-Road Rally World Cup and a two-time winner of the World Rally Raid Championship. A true legend of the Dakar Rally, Nasser has won this legendary event five times.

Dacia Sandrider – technical characteristics

FIA category: Ultimate T1+

Chassis: tubular

Body: carbon

Engine: V6, 3 l, biturbo

Maximum power: 264 kW/359 hp

Maximum torque: 539 Nm at 4250 rpm.

Transmission: 4X4

Gearbox: 6-speed sequential

Suspension front/rear: double wishbones

Suspension stroke: 350 mm

Wheels: 17″ aluminum rims

Tires: BF Goodrich 37″

Length x Width x Height: 4140 x 2290 x 1810 mm

Wheel base: 3000 mm

Front/rear consoles: 590/550 mm