The Dacia Sandriders has completed its debut Dakar Rally with a flourish in Saudi Arabia today, as Nasser Al-Attiyah and Édouard Boulanger set their fifth top-three stage time on an event ranked as international motorsport’s ultimate challenge.
Having made its competition debut by winning the Rallye du Maroc last October, The Dacia Sandriders had set finishing the gruelling FIA World Rally-Raid Championship season opener as its key target. With two of its three sustainably fuelled Dacia Sandrider cars crossing the finishing line in Shubaytah, it was a case of mission accomplished.
The achievement was the culmination of an extraordinary team effort, which took on and overcame a myriad of challenges on varied and hugely testing terrain over two punishing weeks of competition.
For a new team contesting such a demanding event for the first time, there were some setbacks along the 7,828km route from the west to east of Saudi Arabia. But despite the unrelenting task facing The Dacia Sandriders, plenty of vital experience was gained for upcoming events, while there were also several notable highlights.
They include a stage win for Al-Attiyah and Boulanger, four top-10 stage times from Cristina Gutiérrez and Pablo Moreno, plus some impressive performances by Sébastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin.
Al-Attiyah, from Qatar, and Frenchman Boulanger fought valiantly for the final podium place before settling for fourth in the overall ranking to underline the pace and potential of the Dacia Sandrider.
Their stage victory on Tuesday meant Al-Attiyah, a five-time Dakar Rally winner, became the only driver in the history of the event to clock the fastest stage time in 18 consecutive participations.
Although Al-Attiyah remains one stage victory away from matching the record of 50 wins, held jointly by fellow Dakar Rally legends Stéphane Peterhansel and Ari Vatanen, he was second quickest on three stages.
