After the announcement of Dacia’s withdrawal from the Dakar Rally, the British company Prodrive has begun working to find new manufacturers to collaborate with for the next edition of the rally, scheduled for 2027.
Dacia, a brand of the Renault group, announced that it is ending its participation in off-road rally competitions at the end of this season, just after winning the forty-eighth edition of Dakar with driver Nasser Al-Attiyah.
This decision has been an unexpected turn for Prodrive, which has managed Dacia’s competitive efforts since the project’s inception. The company is now looking for its next partner to continue competing in the world raid championship.
The director of Prodrive, David Richards, confirmed that they are currently in negotiations with two or three manufacturers to explore the possibility of future collaboration. ‘We are reviewing a long-term plan and are looking for an alternative for Dacia both in the short term and long term,’ said Richards.
Prodrive believes that adaptations of the current model, the Sandrider, could be suitable for other manufacturers, allowing a reduced adaptation time for new entrants. Richards indicated that the current automobile can be minimally modified to meet the needs of any brand interested in participating in Dakar.
With the support of recognized drivers such as Al-Attiyah and the legendary Sébastien Loeb, the continuity of Prodrive’s project is essential for its future strategy, both in competition and technological development.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
