The singer was on his way to perform at Basingstoke’s CarFest when he was spotted getting a lift in the Dacia Sandrider
Pop star Sam Ryder got his ‘adrenaline racing’ before his performance at Basingstoke’s CarFest, as he was spotted arriving at the event in an off-road vehicle. The star looked like he was ready for his very own trip to the moon as he was chauffeured in the Dacia Sandrider – a model set to compete in the Dakar Rally and the World Rally-Raid Championship starting in 2025.
Ryder later took to the festival stage, where the Dakar Rally car was on display, performing a selection of hits including his breakthrough single “Space Man” as well as new material like his latest release, “The Feeling Never Went Away.”
The 2022 Eurovision runner up stepped out from the nearby train station, in Micheldever, to board his next form of transport to the annual motoring event, even donning his own racing suit.
A spokesperson for Dacia said: “Sam Ryder in the Sandrider? We’re proud to have delivered Sam in style. Sam has a real feel of rugged capability about him, which is also what the car is all about.
“He’s a showman and confident in his own style, so seemed the perfect match for the vehicle, and while NASA might not be quite ready to put one of these into space, they’re pretty useful most places here on earth.”
Dacia is taking part in the Dakar Rally and the World-Rally Raid Championship (W2RC) from 2025. The races take in some of the world’s most demanding and harshest terrains, seeing cars scale peaks and make their way through treacherous turf.
The Sandrider itself is fitted with body panels only considered as an absolutely necessity. The car is stripped back to basics, with no unnecessary frills and a strong focus on aerodynamics.
It’s been beefed up with a reinforced subframe and bumpers, carbon bodywork, double wishbone suspension and a 4×4 transmission built for the punishing demands of rally-raid events.
An innovative electrical system maintains power for all on-board accessories, even in the most difficult conditions.
Inside the car, Sabelt seats are upholstered in special anti-bacterial fabrics that self-regulate humidity to help with punishing temperatures. There is also a magnetic plate built into the car’s body to prevent the wheels’ fixation bolts getting lost in the sand.
The Dacia Sandriders, Dacia’s official W2RC team, will compete in their first Dakar and the other legs of the World Rally-Raid Championship in 2025.
Sam Ryder added: “Stoked to take one of these to Car Fest! The festival’s all about new and innovative vehicles, so this definitely hits the mark. There’s nothing like getting the adrenaline racing right before a show.”
