After Audi, after Ford – currently in trials in the South of France – a third manufacturer is preparing to engage in rally-raid. And not just any: Renault, via its Dacia brand, is preparing for the Dakar 2025.
In London, Renault, via its Alpine brand, attracted the spotlight on Thursday, February 16, with the presentation of its new single-seater for the next Formula 1 season, with ambassador Zinedine Zidane. But in the shadows, far from the cameras, Renault is working hard to get back to the fore in rally-raids. According to our information, the diamond brand, via Dacia, is preparing a prototype to participate in the Dakar 2025.
Renault and the Dakar, it’s an old story! The oldest remember with emotion the exploits of the Marreau brothers, their famous 4L and even more their homemade R20, victorious in 1982. Without forgetting the successes of Jean-Louis Schlesser, double winner in 1999 and 2000 with his blue buggy powered by the French brand.
Last spring, Luca de Meo, the group’s big boss, made no secret of his desire to see Renault return to the tracks soon. Presidential wish granted. Davide Brivio, his eminence grise, discreetly tested the waters at the end of last season. The Italian was seen in the bivouac in Morocco and Andalusia. His arrival on the Dakar, on the occasion of the rest day, was even planned before being canceled at the very last moment. Too conspicuous, no doubt…
Dacia, second attempt!
At the time, Luca De Meo mentioned “a brand of the group, with a sustainable fuel”. This will indeed be the case: Dacia is preparing a hybrid prototype – no doubt a Duster – for the Dakar 2025. Originally, the idea was to highlight another brand of the group, emblematic of the great years of the Dakar: Lada! Geopolitics decided otherwise. The future project is managed internally by… Bruno Famin, current executive director of Alpine and ex-boss of Peugeot Sport during the treble from 2016 to 2018. The Dakar, he knows.
Dacia already has a – slim – experience of the Dakar. From 2013 to 2018, an Argentinian team, led by Emiliano Spataro, the local star, roams the South American tracks with a Duster prototype. At the time, Renault Sport Technologies provided discreet technical support to the project. The experience ends on the evening of the 2018 edition, with a 14e place (E. Spataro in 2014) for best result in six appearances.
A Franco-British alliance, as in F1?
On the side of Viry-Châtillon, it is radio silence. For the moment, no question of communicating. But as it does in Formula 1 for its chassis, Renault should entrust the operation of the project to a well-known British entity. In balance with two other teams (one English, one French), Prodrive should be the lucky one. Preferred to M-Sport (linked to Ford for many years), the famous English company can showcase its results in the discipline over the past two years with the BRX Hunter, second in the last two editions of the Dakar in the hands of Sébastien Loeb, vice-world champion in the specialty and winner in Andalusia at the end of last season.
Out of contract at the end of this season, Sébastien Loeb is available. Courted by Toyota, approached by M-Sport for a program with Ford, the Alsatian is in the loop of the Renault project. On the side of the French manufacturer, no precipitation. The issue of pilots will be addressed in a second phase, during next summer.
