Tag Archives: Dakar Rally

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Dacia Sandrider

The 2024 Dakar Rally ended last month, and Romanian manufacturer Dacia unveiled its vehicle for next season, the Dacia Sandrider. It is a vehicle that the team will use next year in the Ultimate T1+ class in the Dakar Rally, but also in the World Rally-Raid Championship.

The buggy is inspired by the Manifesto model that Dacia revealed two years ago. The carbon body of the racing car is placed on a tubular chassis, and experts from the British company Prodrive participated in the development of the car.

The Sandrider will have to undergo numerous tests before its first appearance scheduled at this year’s Morocco Rally, which will be run from October 5 to 11. Next season, Team Dacia will have three cars that will be used on difficult terrains around the world, and they will be driven by top rally drivers Sébastien Loeb, Cristina Gutierrez Herrero and Nasser Al-Attiyah.

When it comes to the powertrain, the Sandrider is the most powerful car in the history of Dacia. It is powered by a 3.0L biturbo V6 engine with 360 hp (268 kW) at 5,000 rpm and 398 lb-ft (539 Nm) of torque. power is sent to all wheels via a 6-speed sequential gearbox. The car is mounted on 17-inch rims wrapped in tires suitable for all types of terrain on which the Sandrider will compete.

Source: Dacia

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Dacia Sandrider
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Motorcyclist Carles Falcon is the new victim of the Dakar Rally

Rally Dakar is an annual rally raid in which hundreds of drivers participate in different categories. Also, it is one of the longest (7,891 kilometers) and most dangerous races in the world, which since 1979 (inaugural season) has always been fatal for drivers as well as other non-participants. This season is no exception, and the victim is the Spanish motorcyclist Carles Falcon.

Falcon lost his life due to severe injuries sustained in an accident during the Dakar Rally last week. He was driving the second stage (kilometer 448) when, 15 kilometers before the finish line, he fell and hit his head hard on the ground, after which he was transported by helicopter to the hospital. The doctors tried to save his life, but after several days of struggle and transport to Spain, his body could not take it.

“We are saddened by the death of the Spanish motorcyclist Carles Falcon. The organizers of the Dakar Rally and the competitors express their condolences to his family and friends,” the rally organization said.

“Carles has left us. The medical team has confirmed that the neurological damage caused by the cardiorespiratory attack at the time of the accident is irreversible,” his team posted on Instagram.

Falcon was not only a driver, he also worked as an off-road instructor and guide.

Source: Dakar Rally / Photo: EPA-EFE

EV, News

2023 Audi RS Q e-tron

The end of the year is approaching, but so is the start of the new Dakar Rally, which will start on December 31. Teams are preparing their cars for one of the toughest races in the world. One of them is Audi which will use last years, but improved RS Q e-tron.

Audi finished ninth overall last year, and the RS Q e-tron was fastest on four stages. This was a sign for the German manufacturer to come this year with the same electric car powered only by electric motors (the two-liter turbo petrol in this case only serves to charge the batteries). With new information and significantly more time to prepare, Audi managed to shed a few kilos by using lighter materials, which should help the hybrid Audis against the Toyota, Mini and BRX whose cars are powered by internal combustion engines.

The Audi RS Q e-tron competes in the T1-E category. It is powered by two electric motors in combination with a 2.0 liter four-cylinder turbo engine, with a total power of 670 hp (500 kW). It is equipped with a 370 kg battery with a capacity of around 52 kWh. It reaches 62 mph in less than 4.5 seconds with a top speed, limited by regulations, of 106 mph (170 km/h).

The Dakar Rally will be held in Saudi Arabia for the fourth time, it contains 5,000 kilometers of speed tests. begins on December 31 and ends on January 15, 2023.

Source: Audi