DACIA
The Romanian brand has just presented the Dacia Sandrider Concept, the prototype that will be driven by the Dacia Sandriders team in the Dakar Rally and in the World Rally-Raid Championship from 2025.
Inspired by the Dacia Manifesto Concept, the laboratory of new ideas that the manufacturer presented in 2022, the Sandrider is a completely new vehicle designed specifically for rally raids. It is based on the sporting experience of Groupe Renault and Prodrive.
This innovative prototype intelligently takes advantage of all the possibilities offered by the regulations in the Ultimate T1 category, focusing mainly on agility and weight.
For the cabin, Dacia designers and engineers paid special attention to the needs, customs and demands of both the driver and co-driver. The Sandrider's modular dashboard allows each crew member to adapt the ergonomics and design of certain features to their own requirements.
The Dakar is one of the toughest motorsport meetings. For this reason, the Sandrider needed an approach that took Dacia's robust concept to the extreme.
This entailed strengthening the vehicle with a consolidated subframe and bumpers, carbon fiber bodywork, twin-fork suspension and a 4x4 transmission built for the grueling requirements of rally-raid events. An innovative electrical system maintains optimal power for all onboard accessories, even in the most difficult conditions.
The seats designed by Sabelt are upholstered with special antibacterial fabrics that self-regulate humidity. The spare wheels are uncovered to facilitate handling. Likewise, the crew can quickly access onboard tools without having to open a box.
Other examples include a magnetic plate, integrated into the bodywork, to prevent wheel mounting bolts from being lost in the sand.
The Sandrider is equipped with new generation BF Goodrich tires that offer excellent grip on all types of terrain, with maximum resistance to impacts and punctures. These 37-inch tires will be shod on 17-inch aluminum wheels.
Engineers worked especially hard to make the car lighter and reduce fuel consumption. The overall weight of the Sandrider has been reduced by around 15 kg compared to prototypes of the same type. This result was achieved by using a lighter tubular chassis, eliminating all superfluous body panels and using carbon fiber for the rest. The designers also eliminated all decorative elements and the engineers opted for a more compact and lighter engine. To optimize traction, dynamic performance and weight, the distribution between the front and rear has been significantly increased at the front.
Furthermore, special emphasis was placed on aerodynamics to reduce fuel consumption and improve performance. Engineers were able to reduce drag by around 10% and lift by 40% compared to similar prototypes.
To keep the temperature in the cabin low, the Sandrider designers used anti-infrared pigments integrated directly into the vehicle's carbon body panels. A patent has been filed for this process.
The Sandrider's engine runs on synthetic fuel supplied by Aramco. It's a simple and affordable solution to reduce your environmental impact.
Now, the Sandrider will begin a long series of development tests in several countries. His debut in motorsport will take place at the Rally du Maroc 2024, the Moroccan stage of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) that will be held between October 5th and 11th, 2024.
The Dacia Sandriders, the official Dacia W2RC team, will compete in their first Dakar and in the remaining stages of the World Rally-Raid Championship in 2025.
French rally driver Sébastien Loeb, 49, won the World Rally Championship nine times in a row between 2004 and 2012. He is the most successful driver in motorsport and is often considered the best rally driver of all time. Sébastien Loeb has participated in the Dakar since 2016. He will be accompanied by his co-driver Fabián Lurquin.
Rally driver Cristina Gutiérrez, 32, is a prominent name in cross-country rallies. She has already participated in eight Dakar rallies between 2017 and 2024. Cristina won the Cross-Country Rally World Cup, category T3, in 2021. In January 2024, she became the second woman to win in a Dakar category (Challenger), deepois by Jutta Kleinschmidt, who came first overall. Cristina's co-pilot will be Pablo Moreno Huete.
Nasser Al-Attiyah has won the Cross-Country Rally World Cup five times and is a two-time winner of the World Rally-Raid Championship. A true Dakar legend, he has won this spectacular race five times.
The tubular chassis and carbon fiber body house a 3.0-liter direct injection twin-turbo V6 capable of producing 360 hp at 5,000 rpm and offering a maximum torque of 539 Nm at 4,250 rpm.
The vehicle in question will have the following dimensions: length x width x height: 4,140 x 2,290 x 1,810 mm with a wheelbase of 3,000 mm.
Autonews
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