Last year, continuing its quest to redefine the essentials, Dacia, the brand with outdoor spirit, announced it would take part in the Dakar Rally and the World-Rally Raid Championship (W2RC) from 2025. The coming days mark the start of teams’ 2025 W2RC title bid and follow its impressive 1-2 finish at the Rallye du Maroc, a race which served primarily as a Dakar Rally dress rehearsal.
Tackling some of the world’s most demanding and ruthless terrains, Dacia’s contender, the Sandrider, is designed to win.
After months of testing, The Dacia Sandriders take on their next formidable challenge at the Dakar Rally, motorsport’s ultimate adventure. The opening round of the 2025 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship from 3 – 17 January is a brutal test of driver and machine.
Taking place over sand dunes and rocky passes from the west to the east of Saudi Arabia, the goal is not just speed but also navigation and endurance. Competitors must find their way using GPS while tackling tough obstacles and extreme conditions.
It’s a true test of adventure, skill and resilience in some of the world’s harshest environments.
After the Prologue stage on 3 January, the 2025 Dakar Rally consists of 5,145 timed kilometres across 12 days of intense competition.
Starting in Bisha, in the west of Saudi Arabia, the event ends in Shubaytah to the east, via a rest day in Hail and an overnight halt in the capital, Riyadh. Included in the itinerary is the 48h Chrono Stage which covers a punishing 971 competitive kilometres.
The Dacia Sandriders’ Team Principal, Tiphanie Isnard, is under no illusions in terms of the arduous challenge in store for the three-car squad.
