Sébastien Loeb, the rally legend who dominated the World Rally Championship (WRC) with nine titles and an astonishing 80 victories, now finds himself facing the one challenge that has eluded him: the Dakar Rally. Despite his storied success in rallying, the Dakar has remained the unclaimed crown in Loeb’s career, as he gears up for his ninth attempt in January 2025.
However, Loeb’s quest to conquer Dakar takes a significant step forward this week at the Rallye du Maroc, where he, alongside fellow Dacia drivers Nasser Al-Attiyah and Cristina Gutiérrez, will debut the highly anticipated Dacia Sandrider. Developed by Prodrive with input from Renault and Alpine engineers, the Sandrider is the team’s secret weapon in their quest for off-road glory.
Loeb acknowledges that the Moroccan rally, which covers close to 1,000 competitive miles over five days, is not just another test but a pivotal moment in his preparations for Dakar. While the Sandrider has been put through its paces in several test sessions, the rally will reveal how the new twin-turbo three-liter machine fares against the competition in real race conditions.
“After all the hard work in testing, we can finally measure ourselves against the competition and see where we are in terms of performance,” Loeb said. “It’s a live rehearsal, and the goal is to ensure everything is in place. If there are problems, we’ll fix them before Dakar—but of course, a good result here would be great too.”
Despite finishing on the Dakar podium five times, including two consecutive second-place finishes in 2022 and 2023, Loeb’s thirst for victory is undiminished. For a driver who’s reached the top in nearly every motorsport discipline, nothing short of winning Dakar will suffice.
Loeb won’t have to look far for inspiration. His teammate Nasser Al-Attiyah is a five-time Dakar champion and enters the Rallye du Maroc leading the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). For Al-Attiyah, who is chasing a sixth off-road title, Morocco presents an opportunity to fine-tune his performance while also solidifying his championship bid.
“We are leading the championship, so we need to manage with a good speed and not do anything crazy,” said Al-Attiyah, emphasizing the importance of a calculated approach. “The Sandrider is a new car, and we must try to work day-by-day.”
Meanwhile, Cristina Gutiérrez is making a significant leap in her career, moving from the T3 category, where she won last year, to the top-level Ultimate class. The Spaniard sees the Moroccan rally as a crucial step in her transition to the more powerful Sandrider.
“It’s my first race in a new category with a new car and new team,” Gutiérrez shared. “There’s pressure, but it’s the kind of pressure that pushes you to give your best. I hope we can confirm the hard work done during testing and achieve a good result.”
As Loeb, Al-Attiyah, and Gutiérrez prepare to push their limits in Morocco, one thing is certain: the road to Dakar runs through the unforgiving Moroccan desert, and for Loeb, the journey to complete his career’s ultimate achievement has only just begun.
Photo from Sébastien Loeb Instagram
