AutoDacia does Dakar on synthetic fuel: Renault’s little brother could be 2025’s biggest shockIts Sandrider rally raid vehicle packs a 360bhp V6 that runs on synthetic fuelWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
AutoDacia does Dakar on synthetic fuel: Renault’s little brother could be 2025’s biggest shockIts Sandrider rally raid vehicle packs a 360bhp V6 that runs on synthetic fuelWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Its Sandrider rally raid vehicle packs a 360bhp V6 that runs on synthetic fuel
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Dacia)
(Image credit: Dacia)
Dacia has announced that it is to enter the 2025 Dakar Rally with off-road driving legend Sebastian Loeb, 2024 Dakar T3 category winner Cristina Gutiérrez and multipleDakar winnerNasser Al-Attiyah behind the wheel.
Seeing as the world’s most gruelling race will likely eat a Duster alive,Daciahas turned to race engineering specialist Prodrive for assistance in building a bespoke machine to tackle the back-to-back days of mechanical punishment Dakar vehicles have to endure.
Prodrive will supply a basic tubular chassis with carbon fibre bodywork, while atwin-turbo3.0-litre V6 sends 360bhp to all four wheels for maximum traction. Suspension with a staggering 350mm of travel assists in soaking up the lumps and bumps, while next-generation BF Goodrich tyres feature for maximum puncture resistance.
(Image credit: Dacia)
(Image credit: Dacia)
Dacia’s engineering department has also been working closely with the drivers to introduce comfort and convenience features to make life behind the wheel slightly more bearable. The anti-reflective paint used on the upper part of the dashboard – a technique borrowed from the aviation industry– optimises visibility, for example, and the seats are upholstered in special anti-bacterial fabrics that self-regulate humidity.
In addition to this, Dacia says it has introduced a magnetic plate, built into the bodywork of Sandrider, to prevent the fixation bolts for the wheels getting lost in the sand after listening to driver feedback. After all, crawling around in the dust looking for wheel nuts can make or break a team’s overall time.
(Image credit: Dacia)
(Image credit: Dacia)
If you want to see it in action, you’ll have to keep an eye on the Ultimate T1+ category in the Dakar Rally next year, although Dacia says early prototypes will be put to the test as early as 2024 at the Rallye du Maroc.
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