Dacia Sandriders Triumph in Saudi Arabia's Dakar Rally
Today, the Dacia Sandriders celebrated the triumphant completion of their debut Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. Nasser Al-Attiyah and Édouard Boulanger achieved their fifth top-three stage time, marking the event as the pinnacle of international motorsport.
After their victorious debut at the Rallye du Maroc last October, the Dacia Sandriders aimed to finish the demanding FIA World Rally-Raid Championship season opener. Two of their three eco-friendly Dacia Sandrider vehicles successfully crossed the finish line in Shubaytah, achieving their primary goal.
This success represents the peak of an extraordinary team effort that faced and conquered numerous challenges across diverse and challenging terrains over two gruelling weeks of competition.
As newcomers to such a formidable event, the Dacia Sandriders encountered several setbacks along the 7,828km journey from the west to the east of Saudi Arabia. Despite these challenges, they gained invaluable experience and celebrated multiple achievements.
Highlights include a stage victory for Al-Attiyah and Boulanger, four top-10 stage times by Cristina Gutiérrez and Pablo Moreno, and commendable performances by Sébastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin.
Al-Attiyah, from Qatar, and his French teammate Boulanger contended fiercely for a final podium spot, ultimately securing fourth place overall, demonstrating the Dacia Sandrider's speed and potential.
With their stage win on Tuesday, Al-Attiyah became the only driver in the event's history to set the fastest stage time in 18 consecutive participations. Though one victory short of the record 50 wins held by Dakar Rally legends Stéphane Peterhansel and Ari Vatanen, Al-Attiyah was impressively quick in three other stages.
Tiphanie Isnard, Dacia Sandriders' team principal, praised the team's efforts: "I'm immensely proud of our team. This Dakar was demanding, but our team performed flawlessly and with great spirit. We're already preparing for our next challenges."
Nasser Al-Attiyah added: "The Dakar is a significant challenge, and though this year didn't go as planned, our experience leaves us stronger for the next. We're determined to claim victory next year."
Cristina Gutiérrez remarked on her Dakar experience: "It was a challenging but rewarding first Dakar in the Ultimate class with the Dacia Sandriders. I'm thrilled with our achievements and grateful for the support from the entire team."
Despite a power steering issue on Stage 2 that dashed their hopes for rally success, Gutiérrez and Moreno played a crucial support role. They helped their teammates through mechanical difficulties and ensured team resilience was fully displayed.
The team's collective effort and dedication shone particularly on Stage 4, when they helped Al-Attiyah and Boulanger continue after their vehicle suffered a suspension failure. This spirit of cooperation was key to their strategy, underlined by their support to Loeb and Lurquin after their challenges on the course.
Though Sébastien Loeb's rally ended early, his performance until then had been stellar, positioning him as a strong contender in the early stages.
The Dacia Sandriders are now set to continue their campaign in the upcoming Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge as part of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, bolstered by their experiences and lessons from the Dakar Rally.
