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Dacia Sandriders Celebrate Podium Finish At South African Safari Rally With Strong Performance
The Dacia Sandriders team has achieved another milestone in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), securing their second top-three finish of the season. Sébastien Loeb and Fabien Lurquin claimed second place in the South African Safari Rally, finishing just 1 minute and 39 seconds behind the winner. This marks their third podium finish in four attempts.
In Sun City, there was a double celebration as Nasser Al-Attiyah and Édouard Boulanger clinched their second stage win of the W2RC event. They had also been the fastest during Thursday's third stage. The Dacia Sandriders team, with its sustainably fuelled cars, faced diverse terrains from open savannah to narrow farmland tracks but excelled by finishing second and tenth overall.
After three rounds of W2RC, Al-Attiyah and Boulanger lead the provisional Driver and Navigator rankings with 114 points, 20 points ahead. Loeb and Lurquin hold ninth place with 40 points, while The Dacia Sandriders team ranks second in the Manufacturers' table with 206 points.
Sébastien Loeb and Fabien Lurquin were just 1 minute and 5 seconds behind local hero Henk Lategan after Stage 4 on Friday. Adjustments to a disputed roadbook note reduced this gap to only 39 seconds with 111 timed kilometres left. Despite narrowing it further, they finished second after five days of intense competition over 1,197 kilometres.
Nasser Al-Attiyah overcame an early challenge from Ford Raptor driver Carlos Sainz to win Stage 5 by a commanding margin of 1 minute and 56 seconds over Toyota's Lucas Moraes. Although penalties prevented him from challenging for overall victory, he secured his eighth stage win for The Dacia Sandriders.
Team Reflections
Tiphanie Isnard, team principal, expressed satisfaction: "It was a good result for The Dacia Sandriders. We met our objective to score points in the Manufacturers’ championship and keep the lead of the Drivers’ championship." She praised the team's performance on unfamiliar terrain in South Africa.
Nasser Al-Attiyah shared his thoughts: "It was a good experience... We did an amazing job... Now we are leading by 20 points." He acknowledged Henk Lategan's local victory as beneficial for the race atmosphere.
Driver Insights
Sébastien Loeb commented on adapting to new conditions: "This rally used completely different types of stages... It was more like WRC racing." He appreciated the car's agility and suspension performance, enjoying his time in South Africa despite limited previous visits.
The Dacia Sandriders began their first non-desert W2RC event strongly. Nasser Al-Attiyah initially finished fourth but dropped due to a penalty for missing a waypoint. Sébastien Loeb faced challenges opening roads but managed third after others incurred penalties.
Stage Progression
During Stage 3, Nasser Al-Attiyah rebounded from penalties to claim his seventh W2RC stage win. Sébastien Loeb advanced from seventh to lead by 23 seconds with two days remaining. In Stage 4, Loeb stayed close to leaders despite Mathieu Serradori's retirement affecting positions.
Stage adjustments on Saturday set up a final showdown between Loeb and Henk Lategan. Loeb fought hard but secured second place overall. Al-Attiyah excelled again in Stage 5 for his second event win, marking his career's 45th W2RC stage victory.
The BP Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal will host round four of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship from September 22-28, 2025. This European event promises more thrilling competition as teams continue their quest for championship glory.
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