Dacia Sandrider
| Company type | Rally raid vehicle |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Dacia Manifesto (concept) |
| Founded | 2024 |
| Headquarters | Romania |
| Products | Rally raid off-road vehicles |
| Parent | Dacia, Prodrive, Renault-Alpine |
The Dacia Sandrider is a rally raid off-road vehicle created through a partnership between Dacia and Prodrive. It made its first appearance in the FIA Ultimate T1+ category during the 2024 Rallye du Maroc.
Specifications
Derived from the Dacia Manifesto SUV concept, the Sandrider was developed jointly by Prodrive, Renault-Alpine, and Dacia, highlighting that it is distinct from the Prodrive Hunter. It is equipped with a newly designed 3.0L twin-turbo V6 engine sourced from the Nissan Z, along with a reengineered chassis and suspension system. The vehicle’s structure includes a carbon fiber body affixed to a tubular frame, reinforced subframe, and enhanced shock absorbers. Its technical features consist of double wishbone suspension, a sequential six-speed transmission, permanent all-wheel drive, 37×12.5 R17 BF Goodrich tires, and suspension travel of 350 mm.
Competition history
During its inaugural competition at the 2024 Rallye du Maroc, the Sandrider secured victory with Nasser Al-Attiyah, while Sebastien Loeb achieved second place and Cristina Gutiérrez finished in 82nd position.
For the 2025 Dakar Rally and the entire 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship season, Dacia fielded three Sandrider vehicles, retaining drivers Al-Attiyah, Loeb, and Gutiérrez. At Dakar 2025, Loeb was forced to retire early after sustaining roll cage damage caused by a rollover incident, and Gutiérrez withdrew due to a mechanical issue. Al-Attiyah completed the event in fourth place overall and claimed a stage victory on the ninth stage.