Philenews

Dacia Dominates the Toughest Car Race in the World

Published January 19, 2026, 12:27
Dacia Dominates the Toughest Car Race in the World

The Dacia Sandriders team achieved its greatest success to date, winning the 2026 Dakar Rally, the most demanding endurance race in the world. Nasser Al-Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin completed a remarkable feat, finishing almost ten minutes ahead of the second-place team, confirming that the Dacia program has now matured to a top level, in just its second participation in the International Federation (FIA) World Rally-Raid Championship. This year's Dakar lasted 13 days, covering a total of 7,976 kilometers, of which 4,809 were in timed special stages. The setting of Saudi Arabia once again presented extreme challenges, with changes from rocky roads and fast open sections to endless sand dunes. In this environment, the Dacia Sandriders presented a steady pace, two stage wins, and impressive consistency, remaining outside the top three in the overall standings only once throughout the race. The team's success was not limited to the top spot. All four crews managed to reach the finish line, highlighting the reliability of the racing car and the organization of the team. Sébastien Loeb – Édouard Boulanger finished the race in fourth place, missing the podium by a few seconds, after a race with several misfortunes and delays. Lucas Moraes – Dennis Zenz, in their first participation with Dacia, finished seventh, while Cristina Gutiérrez – Pablo Moreno climbed to 11th place overall, completing the team's successful performance. For Nasser Al-Attiyah, this success marks his sixth victory in the Dakar Rally, three of which have been achieved in Saudi Arabia. For Fabian Lurquin, it was his first victory in the event and the first victory for a Belgian co-driver in the car category, after three podium appearances in previous years. The victory of the Dacia Sandriders is more than just a racing title. It is a clear statement that Dacia, in a short period of time, has managed to become a protagonist in Rally-Raid racing. With this year's success, the team lays the foundations for even higher goals in the future, having proven that it can compete and win in the toughest terrain of global motorsport.