Marrakesh – There is a Dakar air at the Morocco Rally, which starts tomorrow from Marrakesh. Last test of the 2R Rally Raid world championship, but above all an important test in anticipation of the queen of rallies in 2025.
Organized by David Castera, director of the Dakar, this year the race has seen a boom in registrations: 300 vehicles at the start and 36 nations represented. And if for the motorbike the great challenge is to reach the end safe and sound and at the same time hit the gas, because it is always a race, for the cars it is a real test in view of the great Adventure. There is much anticipation for the debut of Dacia, which will compete with its rivals for the first time.
We talked about it with the Technical Director, Philip Dunabin. Starting from the fundamental stages of the car’s development. “The project started at the beginning of last year. Especially in the first phase of work, the collaboration with the Dacia design department was fundamental, to develop a rally raid competition car, which reflects the values of the brand and is at the same time unique.” The model from which they took inspiration is the Manifesto.
Technical Director, Philip Dunabin, of Dacia Sandriders, Morocco Rally, with Cristina Gutierrez
Photo credit: Motorsport.com
Robust, but also lively in colours, the Dacia Sandriders which will debut in January at the Dakar winks at a young audience. “We are satisfied with the final result and also with the spirit of the car, but also with the entire team which also includes a female team manager, as well as three exceptional crews”. Morocco represents the latest step in an intense development program which has seen the team test in England, the south of France and Morocco.
“Here in Morocco we tested both in the spring but also in the month of August with scorching temperatures, to put the car to the test, but it is only with the Morocco Rally that we can truly measure the performance even compared to our rivals,” he confesses the engineer.
As for expectations, enthusiasm and prudence go hand in hand given that at the wheel of the Dacia Sandriders there will be: Nasser Al-Attiyah who boasts 4 victories in the Dakar with three different manufacturers (Volkswagen, Mini and Toyota), with Eduard Boulanger at his side, until last year co-driver of Mr Dakar, Stephane Peterhansel, and the 9-time rally world champion Sebastien Loeb with Fabian Lurquin, while Cristina Gutierrez will be with Pablo Moreno.
Dacia Sandriders, Morocco Rally
Photo credit: Motorsport.com
“Before you start running, you have to learn to walk,” recalls team principal Tiphanie Isnard, underlining a certain low profile attitude of the team. “The Morocco Rally constitutes a decisive test because the Dacia Sandriders will have to face 2,468 km (of which 1,512 are special stages) on terrain with sand dunes, rocky terrain, bumpy roads and intense heat. A real preparation for the Dakar.”
Sebastien Loeb, Dacia Sandrider
Photo by: Dacia
What is certain is that the drivers will want to do well, starting with Nasser, who has triumphed here six times. “It’s a new challenge, it’s a young project so it’s even more exciting. I like the car which is equipped with new technical solutions such as the seats which protect in the event of a vertical impact”.
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