Dacia will take on one of motorsport’s biggest challenges at the 2025 Dakar rally with its Sandrider.

Taking inspiration from its Manifesto, the concept car revealed last year, the Romanian manufacturer has developed the Sandrider with the help of British motorsport specialist Prodrive. The four-wheel drive car takes the same buggy style design that was first revealed at the 2022 Paris Motor Show to critical acclaim.

The Sandrider will be driven by Nasser Al-Attiyah, a five-time Dakar winner and nine-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb. Cristina Gutierrez Herro will pilot the third car.

SANDRIDER STATS

• FIA class: Ultimate T1+

• Chassis: tubular

• Body: carbon fibre

• Engine: V6, 3 litres, twin-turbo, direct injection

• Maximum power:  265 kW/360 bhp at 5,000 rpm

• Maximum torque: 539 Nm at 4,250 rpm

• Transmission: 4X4

• Gearbox: 6-speed sequential

• Front/rear suspension: double wishbone

• Suspension travel: 350 mm

• Wheels: 17-inch aluminium

• Tyres: BF Goodrich, 37 inches

• Length x width x height: 4,140 x 2,290 x 1,810 mm

• Wheelbase: 3,000 mm

• Front/rear overhang: 590/550 mm

The Dacia Sandrider will run in the top class of rally raid machinery, Ultimate T1+, at the Dakar Rally before competing in an entire season in the World Rally-Raid Championship. Development testing will take place throughout the year before a potential debut at the Rallye du Maroc in October.

Read about Audi’s recent historic maiden Dakar Rally win here.

words: Mike Booth
pictures: Dacia