Zarooq Sand Racer is ready to tackle the desert

Check this out – a road-legal rally-raid style car that’s specifically designed for the UAE desert and built right here in the Emirates. The Zarooq Sand Racer is brainchild of former French racing champion, Bruno Laffite and Mohammed Al Qadi, formerly operations director at Yar Marina Circuit. “

“The UAE are famous for amazing deserts, extreme safari motorsport, and dune racing, but the performance of American and Japanese cars just wasn’t good enough. So, we decided to assemble a team to design and build the car we have all dreamed about, specifically made to race in the desert”, says Zarooq director Mohammed Al Qadi, ex Senior Director Operations of Yas Marina Circuit.

The unique and aggressive-looking Zarooq Sand Racer is the first in a series of elite high-performance cars that will be manufactured in workshops in Dubai. Since it is handmade, many bespoke options are available in terms of performance, infotainment, equipment, or car bodies. 

Weighing 950 kg, the Zarooq Sand Racer boasts a 3.5L V6 that generates anywhere between 300 and 500 horsepower depending on customer requirements. The interior features stunning carbon fibre, while the suspension offers 350-450 mm of travel.

The first 20 units will be a Special Inaugural Edition, with deliveries scheduled for early 2016. The price, depending on the model, edition, and options, varies from $80,000 to $160,000. The official launch of the Zarooq Sand Racer will take place during the 2015 Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix on November 24th.

Named after the Schockari Sand Racer – the fastest and most agile snake in the desert – the car was designed by Anthony Jannarelly, who also designed the W Motors Lykan Hypersport. The car is manufactured in the UAE in partnership with Jannarelly & Juillot Special, with the chassis designed by Campos Racing GP2.

The concept was born after the group of motorsport professionals spotted a gap in the range of vehicle options available to desert drivers. The team includes three founding members and about 15 others of various nationalities, including Emirati, French and British.