Dacia Enters the Legend of Dakar
- Published on 18/01/2026 7:36
Dacia establishes itself at the top of the world rally-raid by winning the Dakar 2026 thanks to Nasser Al-Attiyah and the Sandrider.
On Saturday, January 17, 2026, Dacia wrote what will forever be remembered as the finest chapter in its sporting history by winning the Dakar Rally, the most demanding off-road event in the world. Competing with the Dacia Sandrider prototype, the Franco-Romanian brand of the Renault group achieved a clear and undeniable victory after two weeks of racing in Saudi Arabia.
At the wheel, Nasser Al-Attiyah, partnered with Belgian co-driver Fabian Lurquin, dominated the auto category with intelligence and authority. Already a five-time Dakar winner before this edition, the Qatari driver clinched his sixth victory here, definitively sealing his status as the absolute reference of modern rally-raid. Upon arrival, the Dacia crew won with nearly ten minutes ahead of Nani Roma’s Ford Raptor, confirming a total mastery of the race.
This victory is particularly significant as it comes for a brand still new at the highest level of the Dakar. Developed in partnership with Prodrive, the Sandrider demonstrated remarkable reliability in extreme conditions: dunes, complex navigation, tough connections, and high temperatures. Where many favorites encountered setbacks, Dacia managed to maintain a constant pace, limit mistakes, and seize every opportunity. Sébastien Loeb complemented this outstanding performance with a commendable 4th place despite repeated punctures.
Throughout the 13 stages of this 2026 edition, Al-Attiyah and Lurquin alternated targeted attacks and strategic management. A few navigation hesitations never jeopardized their leader position, with the crew consistently responding with strong times during key days. This ability to withstand pressure made the difference against a well-seasoned competition.
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Beyond the raw result, this success marks a turning point for Dacia. By winning in its early campaigns, the brand proves that a mainstream manufacturer can compete with the heavyweights of the world rally-raid. The Dakar 2026 will thus remain as the edition of consecration, the one where Dacia went from the status of an ambitious outsider to that of a historic winner.
This page is translated from the original post "Dacia entre dans la légende du Dakar" in French.
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