Unexpected abandonment for Dacia! » Definitive withdrawal from the Dakar Rally, after winning it
Article by Tudor Belivacă – Published on Thursday, 12 February 2026, 18:43 / Updated on Thursday, 12 February 2026 18:47
Dacia has decided to stop participating in the Dakar Rally from next season and to compete in the Rally-Raid competitions. This is after the Romanian manufacturer, with the Sandriders model, won this year's edition of the most difficult car competition.
The winning crew consisted of Nasser Al‑Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin, and the victory was a clear one, achieved with almost ten minutes ahead. In addition, all three other Dacia Sandriders crews reached the end of the competition.
Dacia withdraws from the Dakar Rally and closes the Rally-Raid program
The information of the withdrawal of the Dacia team from the Dakar Rally was announced by the publication AUTOhebdo, and the decision will come into force at the end of the 2026 season, after the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge competition.
Sébastien Loeb and Édouard Boulanger finished the rally in 4th place overall, while Lucas Moraes and Dennis Zenz finished their first Dakar with the team in 7th position. Moreover, Cristina Gutiérrez and Pablo Moreno climbed to 11th place in the general classification, after starting in the last special from 12th position.
This victory is the result of collective work and exceptional commitment. The fact that all four cars finished in the top 11 is impressive and reflects the efforts of the entire team. After a little rest, we're back to work – our goal remains to win the FIA World Rally‑Raid Championship
-Tiphanie Isnard, Dacia Sandriders team manager
At which competitions will the Dacia Sandriders model be seen?
Dacia Sandriders will also participate in the next period at:
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March 17-22: BP Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal
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May 24-29: Oesafio Ruta 40 (Argentina)
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September 28 – October 3: Morocco Rally
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November 22-27: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (UAE).
The second withdrawal on the same day for the Renault group
According to the quoted source, this announcement comes in parallel with that of Alpine, another manufacturer of the Renault group, which has confirmed its withdrawal from the World Endurance Championship (WEC) at the end of 2026.
In a statement published today, the French company said: “Alpine Cars, the French brand specialized in sports cars, announces the adjustment of its development plan to support its growth strategy. This optimization, based on the prioritization of key projects, is necessary to ensure a sustainable future for the brand and to better meet the expectations of potential customers, current customers and fans.”
