Dacia officially launches the challenge to the Dakar 2025, unveiling Sandrider, the prototype of the Romanian brand which will be the basis for the vehicle that will face the desert race next year. The Renault group brand will face one of the most famous and historic competitions in the world of motorsport using a vehicle that partly recalls Dacia Manifesto, the design concept car unveiled a few years ago which however only shares some stylistic references with Sandrider given the difference in size and equipment. Starting from power, with Dacia Sandrider which will use an internal combustion engine powered by synthetic fuels.
The Dacia Sandrider challenge
Under the skin there will be a 6V Biturbo 3.0 engine from the Nissan and Infiniti-derived Alliance, adapted for the use of e-fuels thanks to the collaboration with Aramco, thus allowing the unit to guarantee the same performance that would be guaranteed by a traditional fuel . It is also a more compact and lighter engine than the reference model. Dacia Sandrider has already been subjected to the Dyno Test, reaching the power peaks required by the FIA T1+ regulation, with 300 kW and 600 Nm. The Dacia engineering team then worked on refining the all-wheel drivetrain, the front and rear axles have been strengthened, work has also been done on new, stiffer brake calipers while offering better pedal feel.
Development
As regards the development of the bodywork and the design choices, Dacia Sandrider first and foremost uses a tubular frame with lightweight steel for better weight distribution, more robust and with a lower center of gravity. The engineers of the Romanian brand have exploited an angle of the A-pillar that can offer the widest possible axis of vision. To improve visibility, an anti-reflective paint was also chosen on the dashboard, with technology derived from the aeronautical world. The dashboard is modular, with screens and controls that can be adapted to the pilot's needs. In true Dacia spirit, the Sandrider offers a robust and easy-to-maintain vehicle, with a magnetic plate that can capture bolts and other components, preventing them from being lost in the sand in case of need for intervention during the race. To keep the temperature in the passenger compartment optimal, a specific anti-infrared pigment was applied to the carbon fiber panels of the bodywork, with the latter also being optimized from an aerodynamic point of view to facilitate the cooling of engines and mechanical components.
Dakar 2025 objective for Dacia
The next steps for the development of the Dacia Sandrider prototype and the arrival of the final version for the Dakar 2025 include a roll-out phase in April in England, tests in Morocco in June and participation in the Morocco Rally in October. Leading the way for the Dakar 2025 challenge is Sebastian Loeb, among the Dacia drivers for the competition: “We participate to win, I don't think we are too far from being able to win. We work hard with all the staff to optimize all the elements to achieve this result. We will complete this journey to be ready for the race in 2025.“
#Dacia #Sandrider #prototype #Dakar #synthetic #fuels #FormulaPassion.it
