This is more than a rally car
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With the South African Safari Rally and 2nd place on the podium won by the Sébastien Loeb-Fabian Lurquin crew, Sandrider has pushed back the limits of engineering in the wilderness. Sandrider is pushing the boundaries of automotive engineering. Custom-tailored for both driver and co-driver, it merges ruggedness and eco-smart solutions to blaze a new trail in the world of motorsport.
BY RENAULT GROUP
This is Dacia’s vision of performance
A prototype developed in the Ultimate T1+ category, combining a tubular chassis with a 3-liter biturbo V6 engine. With no frills, Sandrider goes straight to the point: gaining speed, agility, and reliability in the most hostile terrains.
This is a design guided by essentials
Inspired by the Manifesto concept car and designed specifically for rally raids, Sandrider focuses on essential features: every design element serves the race. An anti-reflective coating on the dashboard, a short, sloping hood—visibility and ergonomics take precedence. And its silhouette is pared down to the bare minimum to maximize performance.
This is a response to the real needs of drivers and co-drivers
Designed around their usage and constraints, the cockpit features a modular dashboard, antibacterial seats that regulate humidity, and direct access to tools. The spare wheels, left uncovered, are easily removed, while a magnetic zone built into the body prevents nuts from getting lost on the road. Every detail is based on concrete feedback from the field.
This is an alliance of champions
Under the banner “The Dacia Sandriders,” Sébastien Loeb (nine-time WRC[1] champion), Cristina Gutierrez Herrero (a key figure in cross-country rally racing), and Nasser Al-Attiyah (five-time Dakar winner) unite their talents to push Sandrider to its limits on the most demanding tracks.
[1] World Rally Championship
This is uncompromising ruggedness
Reinforced bumpers and underbody, double wishbone suspensions, 4x4 transmission: Sandrider embodies the “robust and outdoor” principle so dear to Dacia. Every component is built to withstand roughness of the road, extreme heat, and heavy impacts.
This is an eco-smart choice
With limited body panels, advanced aerodynamic work, and a more sustainable fuel provided by Aramco[2] to reduce its environmental impact, the goal is to reconcile a passion for motorsport with a sustainable vision of mobility.
[2] 80% sustainable fuels derived from biomass.
This is an all-terrain laboratory
Drawing on Renault Group and Prodrive’s expertise in motorsport, Sandrider is testing solutions today that will equip the brand’s future outdoor-focused vehicles. Beyond its rally-raid performance, it proves that ruggedness and lightness, reliability and simplicity can go hand in hand.
This is more than a rally car
Sandrider embodies both a passion for motorsport and a response to environmental challenges. It’s a visionary prototype, the ultimate laboratory for testing uncompromising performance with an eco-smart approach.
