Sébastien Loeb launches his assault on Dakar with his Dacia Sandrider

The nine-time World Rally Champion seems better equipped than ever to finally dominate the grueling Dakar!

Designed for Dakar, the Dacia Sandrider is equipped with an engine that uses 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 perfect testing ground for this technology for Dacia.

Since weight is the enemy of performance in motorsport, only the absolutely necessary body panels have been retained. Hence, a rather minimalist and surprising look more akin to Mad Max than a car show. The engineers at Dacia saved 15 kg by removing all unnecessary decorative elements. The vehicle’s aerodynamics were also optimized, with a 10% reduction in drag and a 40% decrease in lift compared to comparable prototypes.

An unprecedented trio of champions at the wheel of the Dacia

The formidable Dacia team is composed of the 2022 Extreme E Champion, Cristina Gutiérrez, who began the testing phase of the prototype in Wales earlier this year, followed by nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb, who continued the testing phase. Nasser Al-Attiyah, five-time Dakar winner, also had the chance to test the Sandrider at Château de Lastours for two days.

In early October, the Dacia Sandriders made a significant impression with their debut, winning a spectacular victory at the Morocco Rally after five days of intense competition over nearly 2,500 kilometers of challenging terrain. The three drivers will need to be stronger than the elements to succeed. But more than ever on Dakar, before finishing first, you must first finish!

Follow Dakar with the special correspondents of AUTOhebdo. Videos will be available in the video section, but also on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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