Nasser al-Attiyah, a five-time Dakar winner, has confirmed his partnership with Dacia as an official driver in their rally-raid commitment. Al-Attiyah, 52 years old, will officially start his involvement with the brand in the testing phases in 2024, and will hit the tracks of the Dakar and the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) from 2025. This alliance will see him compete alongside notable figures such as Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez Herrero.
Al-Attiyah is no stranger to challenges and triumphs in the rally world. With two FIA world championships in WRC-2 and nineteen FIA Middle East Rally championships between 2003 and 2015, his track record is impressive. In addition to his participation in numerous rally, rally-raid, and circuit racing competitions, his record in rally-raid is particularly notable, including five victories in the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies and two championships in the World Rally-Raid Championship.
In Dakar, al-Attiyah has been a key figure. His first victory in this event came in 2011, and he has accumulated additional triumphs in 2015, 2019, 2022, and 2023. His co-driver, 47-year-old Mathieu Baumel, will join him in this new stage with Dacia. Baumel is one of the most decorated French co-drivers, with four victories in Dakar and twelve world titles to his name.
The addition of al-Attiyah and Baumel marks a significant step in Dacia's commitment to rally-raid. They will join the already established teams of Sébastien Loeb/Fabian Lurquin and Cristina Gutiérrez Herrero/Pablo Moreno Huete, forming the brand's third team in this discipline. Dacia, known for its innovative approach to motorsport, has ambitious plans for these teams.
In 2024, the three teams will have the opportunity to test a brand prototype vehicle, which will run on synthetic fuel, on the tracks of the Morocco rally. This initiative not only shows Dacia's commitment to rally-raid but also to sustainability and technological innovations in motorsport.
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