The Dacia Sandriders are gearing up for their first competitive event this week, as they prepare to take on the Rallye du Maroc (6–11 October 2024). This event marks the final round of the 2024 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship and serves as a critical practice run for January’s Dakar Rally.
The team, featuring Nasser Al-Attiyah / Édouard Boulanger, Cristina Gutiérrez / Pablo Moreno, and Sébastien Loeb / Fabian Lurquin, will test their extensively developed Sandrider Ultimate category cars, built for the grueling demands of rally-raid competitions. Rallye du Maroc, often called a miniature Dakar, will challenge them with 2,468 kilometers of diverse terrain, including 1,512 kilometers of timed stages across sand dunes, rough gravel, and rock-strewn sections.
Nasser Al-Attiyah, a five-time Dakar winner, expressed confidence but emphasized the importance of managing their pace: “We need to be clever, manage good speed, and avoid risks with this new car. Winning the world title would be great for me and my co-driver Edouard.”
Cristina Gutiérrez, stepping up to the Ultimate category, added: “This will be our first race with the Sandrider, and I’m excited. It’s a big step with a new car, category, and team, but I feel comfortable and ready to perform.”
Sébastien Loeb highlighted the importance of the event as a full-scale test before Dakar: “We want to see how we measure against the competition and resolve any issues before Dakar, but achieving a strong result would be ideal.”
The Sandriders’ participation in this rally not only provides crucial preparation for Dakar but also places Al-Attiyah in contention for his sixth World Rally-Raid Championship title.
Rallye du Maroc 2024 Dacia Sandriders Line-up:
- #200: Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) / Edouard Boulanger (FRA)
- #212: Cristina Gutiérrez (ESP) / Pablo Moreno (ESP)
- #219: Sébastien Loeb (FRA) / Fabian Lurquin (BEL)
As the Sandriders head into this intense five-stage rally, all eyes will be on their performance, as they aim to perfect their strategy and prepare for the ultimate challenge in Saudi Arabia.
Source: Dacia
This article was crafted with assistance from Chatgpt
