DACIA is a Romanian car brand, now part of the Renault Group, focusing on the entry into the low-cost car market. THE SANDRIDERS DAKAR AT THE 2024 GENEVA MOTOR SHOW IS STILL IN PROTOTYPE CONDITION AND IS SCHEDULED TO COMPETE IN THE 2025 DAKAR RALLY.
The Sandriders will compete in the Ultimate T1+ class, which is built entirely for racing and features a carbon fibre tubular frame that looks like a rally car through and through. Aside from the Dacia logo on the front, it's hard to associate it with the Dacia brand of civilian cars.
Vehicle length, width and height dimensions 4140/2290/1810mm, wheelbase 3000mm. The four wheels are positioned entirely at the four corners, striving for traversing and climbing capabilities at maximum approach/departure angles when encountering obstacles.
The doors have relatively sharp lines and shapes, which are visually very combative. The two spare wheels are positioned diagonally behind the cockpit and secured by straps, allowing the driver and navigator to pick and release the tyres as quickly as possible when a tyre change is required.
The rear of the prototype features a fastback with low drag and a large roof spoiler. At the rear, you can see the Dacia brand's latest two-bar tail lights, but the rear shape of the real car will be greatly adjusted compared to the prototype in consideration of the actual needs of the competition.
In terms of power, the Sandriders will be powered by a 265 kW 360 hp 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with a peak torque of 539 Nm at 4,250 rpm, mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox, front and rear double wishbone suspension with 350mm of shock absorber travel, and a four-wheel drive system mated to Beloch rally tires.