The Dacia Sandriders are preparing to take on motorsport’s most punishing challenge once again, as the team lines up for its second assault on the Dakar Rally from 3 to 17 January 2026. Buoyed by a highly successful debut season and strengthened by an expanded four-car line-up, Dacia heads back to Saudi Arabia with one objective in mind: to fight for outright victory.
Dacia’s first Dakar campaign in 2025 exceeded expectations. The brand, synonymous with robust outdoor adventure, claimed a stage win on its Dakar debut and added two victories across the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship season. Those results underlined not only the competitiveness of the Dacia Sandrider but also the team’s rapid progress in one of the most demanding arenas in global motorsport.
For 2026, the challenge intensifies. The Dakar Rally forms the opening round of the World Rally-Raid Championship and spans nearly 8,000 kilometres of relentless terrain, from towering dunes and rocky mountain passes to narrow, technical tracks that punish even the smallest mistake. Over two weeks, crews will be tested on endurance, navigation, mechanical sympathy and mental resilience.
Dacia returns with a formidable four-strong driver and navigator roster. Leading the charge is Nasser Al-Attiyah, a five-time Dakar winner and three-time W2RC champion, partnered once again with Belgian navigator Fabian Lurquin. With 21 Dakar starts to his name, Al-Attiyah brings unmatched experience and proven pace, having finished runner-up in last season’s W2RC standings.
Cristina Gutiérrez and Pablo Moreno also return, determined to build on a promising 2025 campaign that showcased their consistency and teamwork. After playing a key supporting role last year, the Spanish pairing arrive in Saudi Arabia confident in their ability to deliver strong stage results over the full duration of the rally.
Sébastien Loeb, nine-time FIA World Rally Champion, continues his Dakar quest alongside Édouard Boulanger, the reigning W2RC champion navigator. Forced to retire from the 2025 Dakar after an early accident, Loeb is focused on bettering his three previous second-place finishes and converting his vast rallying pedigree into a long-awaited Dakar victory.
Further strengthening the team is the arrival of reigning World Rally-Raid champion Lucas Moraes. The Brazilian joins Dacia for the first time, partnered by experienced German navigator Dennis Zenz. Moraes claimed a Dakar podium on his event debut in 2023, while Zenz finished runner-up in class the same year, making the pairing one of the most exciting additions to the 2026 entry list.
All four crews will compete in upgraded four-wheel-drive Dacia Sandrider machines, powered by ARAMCO sustainable fuel and shod with BFGoodrich tyres. For 2026, the Sandrider benefits from a series of targeted improvements aimed at enhancing performance, reliability and driver comfort. Weight has been reduced through lighter body panels and a redesigned rear section, while cooling and airflow have been optimised with new intake, radiator and fan solutions developed specifically for Dakar conditions.
Visibility and night-stage performance have also been improved through revised lighting and bodywork changes, while mechanical upgrades to suspension, drivetrain and engine components are designed to increase durability over the rally’s extreme distances. With the Sandrider now at technical maturity, the team believes it has a package capable of competing across every terrain Dakar can offer.
Team Principal Tiphanie Isnard is clear-eyed about the scale of the challenge ahead but equally clear about the team’s intent. “We approach the Dakar Rally with determination and ambition. Our objective is clear: we want to win,” she said. “At the same time, we approach this event with humility. The Dakar always has another side, and that is why it demands constant endurance, adaptability and teamwork.”
The 48th edition of the Dakar Rally will begin and end in Yanbu, with 13 stages and 4,840 competitive kilometres. Highlights include two Marathon stages with no external assistance, the 920-kilometre Stage 6, and a decisive final push back to the Red Sea coast. With temperatures ranging from near-freezing nights to mild desert days, the physical and technical demands will be unrelenting.
Having already proven its pace and potential, Dacia now returns to the world’s toughest rally with greater depth, experience and confidence. As the four Sandriders line up among 325 competing vehicles in the Ultimate category, the message from the team is unmistakable: this is no longer a learning exercise. The adventure continues, but the ambition has shifted firmly towards the top step of the Dakar podium.
