The Dacia Sandrider of Sébastien Loeb is ready for the Dakar!

The Dacia Sandrider has completed its initial testing phase as part of its preparations for the Dakar 2025.

The Dacia team visited the famous testing base at Château de Lastours, France, for four days of intense tests where the three crews had the opportunity to test the Sandrider on the rocky and demanding terrains of the Occitan region.

Sandrider is equipped with an engine using synthetic fuel, a solution that reduces the vehicle’s environmental impact. This synthetic fuel is produced by Aramco by combining renewable hydrogen with captured carbon dioxide, resulting in a low-carbon product compatible with modern engines. The Dakar is the ideal testing ground for this technology for Dacia.

As weight is the enemy of good in motorsport, only the absolutely necessary body panels have been retained. This results in a rather minimalist and surprising look, closer to Mad Max than to a car elegance competition. Engineers at Dacia saved 15 kg by eliminating all unnecessary decorative elements. The aerodynamics of the vehicle has not been overlooked, achieving a 10% reduction in drag and 40% in lift compared to comparable prototypes.

A trio of champions at the wheel of the Dacia

Extreme E Champion 2022, Cristina Gutiérrez handled the prototype’s initial testing in Wales before nine-time rally world champion Sébastien Loeb continued the testing phase. Nasser Al-Attiyah, five-time Dakar winner, had free rein with the Sandrider at the Château de Lastours base for two days. Loeb returned to the cockpit for a day and a half, while Cristina Gutiérrez had the honor of closing the session.

In a next session in Morocco from June 28 to July 5, the Sandrider will be tested on terrain similar to that of the Dakar. It will then head to Saudi Arabia, the playground of the Dakar, for its competitive debut from January 3 to 17, 2025.

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