Renault’s sister brand Dacia is all set to make its Dakar debut next year and the brand has just revealed its challenger for the world’s toughest race. Called the Sandrider, the prototype has been built in collaboration with Prodrive and will be powered by a 360hp V6 engine.

Dacia has signed a star-studded driver line-up with five-time Dakar winner Nasser al-Attiyah joining nine-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb and Dakar 2024 winner Cristina Gutierrez Herrero.

1. Dacia Sandrider to compete in the premier Ultimate T1+ category
2. Built by Prodrive
3. 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo to run on synthetic fuel

Dacia Sandrider to run on synthetic fuel

While the four-wheel drive Sandrider bears some similarities to the Prodrive Hunter, Dacia says its design has been inspired by the 2022 Manifesto concept car. The Audi RS Q e-tron recently became the first electrified car to win the Dakar Rally, but Dacia is going for a more traditional approach. Powering the prototype is a 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo putting out 360hp and 539Nm. The engine will run on synthetic fuel supplied by Aramco.

“It’s a simple, affordable solution for reducing its environmental impact. The synthetic fuels developed by Aramco combine renewable hydrogen with sequestered CO2, providing a lower-carbon fuel that is compatible with today's engines,” the company shared in a statement.

Dacia also says the Sandrider weighs around 15kg less than “comparable prototypes” in a bid to further reduce fuel consumption. There are no decorative parts; instead, the prototype is fitted with body panels only considered as absolutely necessary. The weight distribution between the front and rear has been significantly increased at the front to optimise traction and dynamic performance.

Heat management will be key since the race is held in the deserts of Saudi Arabia. To keep the temperature down in the cabin, the Sandrider uses anti-infrared pigments integrated into the carbon body panels. Dacia says it has filed a patent for this process.

There are some more interesting additions focusing on the requirements of the drivers and co-drivers. Anti-reflective paint is used on the upper part of the dashboard to optimise visibility – a technique borrowed from the aviation industry. Each crew member can adapt the layout of certain features on the dashboard as per their own requirements.

At the recommendation of driver Cristina Gutierrez Herrero, a magnetic plate has been built into the bodywork to avoid losing fixation bolts and other parts while carrying out repairs in the desert.

Dacia Sandrider to make racing debut at 2024 Morocco Rally

Dacia has confirmed that along with competing in the 2025 Dakar Rally, it will contest the full 2025 World Rally Raid Championship. Over the next few months, it will undergo testing in several countries before making its competitive debut at the Morocco Rally, scheduled for October 5-11, 2024.