As concepts seemingly get sillier and sillier, so it becomes easier to dismiss them. The Dacia Sandrider is proof that you shouldn’t, because it brings the incredible Manifesto show car from 2022 to life. More than that, in fact, because it’s a real competition car, being prepared to take on the Dakar rally and the World Rally Raid Championship next year.
Dacia’s going all in, too, as the Sandrider will compete in the top Ultimate T1+ category and therefore be eligible for outright victory. Prodrive is involved in the project, Sebastian Loeb will drive one (as will Nasser Al-Attiyah and Cristina Gutierrez Herrero) and the twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 will run on Aramco synthetic fuel.
Not that anyone will be paying any attention to who or what is in the Sandrider when they first see one because it looks completely out of this world. Clearly inspired by the earlier Manifesto, and presumably not far away from the real thing in these renders, Dacia says the design is focused ‘on the essentials of motorsports, that is performance and victory’ - punchy. Anything that isn’t strictly necessary has been jettisoned from the Sandrider (because Dacia is all about the essentials, see, from road car to race car, and it helps with the sustainability pledge).
Weight has been further reduced (down 15kg from earlier prototypes) and aerodynamics improved as part of the process. Apparently, drag and lift were reduced by 10 and 40 per cent, respectively. A three-metre wheelbase sits in a car just 4.1m long, which is also 2.29m wide and 1.81m tall, which might help explain the outrageous proportions. A tubular steel chassis is cloaked in as little carbon bodywork as possible; those panels feature anti-infrared pigments (with a patent filed) to keep cabin temperatures down.
Speaking of the interior, the Sandrider features Sabelt seats ‘upholstered in special anti-bacterial fabrics that self-regulate humidity’, the onboard tools have been designed for easy access, and there’s anti-reflective paint on the dash to help with visibility. Note as well how the bonnet is short and steeply raked; good for both clearing off-road obstacles and visibility. Dacia has involved both drivers and co-drivers (the Sandriders) from the start of the project to ensure the designers and engineers of the Sandrider created a car that worked well for all. As well as one that goes really fast in the desert.
Alongside 365hp, the Sandrider’s engine produces 398lb ft, which reaches all four wheels via a six-speed sequential. Suspension is by double wishbones, with 17-inch aluminium wheels on 37-inch BF Goodrich tyres. The suspension has 350mm of travel.
All sounds pretty competitive, right? Dacia has ensured all eyes will be on the Sandrider’s progress, that’s for certain. It will make its debut at this year’s Rallye du Maroc in October, ahead of a full season of competition in 2025. ‘A very special Dacia, but a Dacia nonetheless’ is how the Sandrider has been introduced to the world. More of the same, please.
1 / 10
