Dacia Sandriders Sign Moraes and Zenz for 2026 W2RC
Dacia Sandriders has strengthened its FIA World Rally-Raid Championship campaign by signing Lucas Moraes and navigator Dennis Zenz to join an expanded line-up from the 2026 season. The team now prepares a four-car W2RC assault featuring Spaniards Cristina Gutiérrez and Pablo Moreno, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin, Frenchmen Sébastien Loeb and Édouard Boulanger, and the new Brazilian-German pairing.
Moraes, 35 and from Brazil, claimed a Dakar Rally podium on his debut in 2023, then finished third in the following season’s W2RC standings. He has won three Brazilian titles and took his maiden W2RC victory at Rally-Raid Portugal last month. Podiums in Abu Dhabi and South Africa put him among the Rallye du Maroc starters as a live W2RC title contender. Zenz, also 35 and from Germany, navigated Seth Quintero to runner-up in class at the 2023 Dakar Rally, then guided the American to overall podiums at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in 2024 and 2025. Their results and consistency raise Dacia Sandriders’ prospects in top-level rally-raid, where several manufacturers already field four cars.
Tiphanie Isnard, Team Principal, The Dacia Sandriders, said: “Rally-Raid has changed a lot over the past year, with the competition becoming tighter and more intense. Nowadays, victories are decided by seconds rather than minutes, especially thanks to the FIA’s Balance of Performance system. To allow Dacia to fight for victory, it was essential to have a structure comparable to that of other manufacturers, which enter at least four cars. Adding a new crew to our lineup, therefore, came as an obvious choice. The final step was to find a duo capable of matching these ambitions. When the time came to choose, Lucas clearly stood out as the best performer statistically, and his personality makes him instantly appreciated by everyone. The same goes for Dennis. Maintaining the spirit and cohesion we’ve built within The Dacia Sandriders was essential for us, and both fit perfectly into this team dynamic that defines our strength.”
Frank Marotte, Dacia VP Sales, Marketing and Operations, said: “Winning the Dakar Rally in 2026 is part of our long-term ambitions. This vision aligns perfectly with the sporting direction we’ve taken, surrounding ourselves with the best teammates and giving the team every opportunity to succeed. Lucas and Dennis truly embody Dacia’s spirit: they’re cool, outdoor-oriented and focused on what really matters. Their energy and attitude fit perfectly with our brand values and the team’s mindset.”
Lucas Moraes, Driver, The Dacia Sandriders, said: “I’m incredibly happy and proud to join The Dacia Sandriders for the Dakar Rally and the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship. This is a new and exciting chapter in my career, and I feel very motivated to represent such an ambitious project. With Dacia, I believe we can achieve great things, and I’m very thankful for this opportunity. I can’t wait to start this journey and fight for strong results alongside the team.”
Dennis Zenz, Navigator, The Dacia Sandriders, added: “I’m really excited to join Lucas Moraes and The Dacia Sandriders from 2026. We’ll have a strong car, a great team, and four competitive crews, which shows the scale of Dacia’s ambition. The goal is not only to win the Dakar Rally, but also to fight for the driver, navigator, and manufacturer titles in 2026. With the people involved and the energy within this project, I’m confident we can create something special. I’m really happy to be part of such a team and such a working environment, and I can’t wait to start the first stage of the Dakar Rally 2026.”
