Dacia Sandrider gears up for rally of Morocco ahead of Dakar debut
After the initial tests, the Dacia Sandrider is ready for its first significant rally event. The team, led by Prodrive, is gradually preparing for the Rally of Morocco, which will be the first and last major test before debuting in Dakar. Recently, photos of the car in action were released, and they are worth seeing.
Jul 17, 2024 | updated: 9:26 AM EDT, July 18, 2024
Dacia's rally program is in full swing. The car, named the Dacia Sandrider, was tested for four days at the Sweet Lamb testing complex in the United Kingdom. The team then moved to Château de Lastours in France for another four days of testing. The car was unveiled earlier this year, and in January, we will see it on the tracks of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.
Cristina Gutiérrez, Sébastien Loeb, and Nasser Al-Attiyah were behind the wheel. Tiphanie Isnard, the head of the Dacia Sandrider team, confirmed that the initial testing phase exceeded expectations, and the drivers encountered no significant problems.
Work is underway to prepare the car for its rally debut in the October Rally of Morocco, where the factory Ford team will compete. Following that, the Dakar debut will take place from January 3–17, 2025.
The Dacia Sandrider team consists of two Dakar stars who are also considered legends, including last year's SSV (T3) class winner.
It is worth noting that the car is not entirely new in construction, as it is based on the BRX Hunter T1+ vehicle, which was prepared and developed by British Prodrive. Dacia may make a strong impression in its debut performance. We will better understand the team's and the car's form in October.
