Lucas Moraes has been in the rally-raid news for two reasons these past few days: because he is the new FIA World Champion, and also because he's leaving Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC to join The Dacia Sandriders. The Brazilian will be sharing a team with, among others, Nasser Al Attiyah, whom he recently dethroned at the top of the W2RC. He expects "a huge competition, both inside and outside the team," but says he's ready for the challenge.
Lucas, let's first go back to your world championship title. A few days later, have you realized it?
“It’s still hard to believe, honestly. The season didn’t start the way we wanted at Dakar, but we kept pushing every single race with four podiums in a row. Winning the world championship was a mix of consistency, teamwork, and never giving up — even when things were tough. Looking back now, it feels like everything that happened was part of the story that had to be written this way. It was just perfect.”
As you said, "If you had to write this ending, even the best screenwriter in the world wouldn't dare to do it". Tell us how you lived that moment.
“It was pure emotion. I went through every feeling possible in about 30 minutes — frustration and anger for thinking that we have lost it, but then total joy. The last 5 kilometers were just crazy, but that’s rally raid: unpredictable until the very end. When it was over, I just thought, ‘we did it… somehow.’ It’s the kind of ending you can’t plan — it just happens.”
Your victory in the bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal was key to winning the title. You preferred to follow your instincts than a team order. Can you tell us more about that moment and that decision?
“It was a tough moment, for sure. I completely respect the team, we had a great conversation afterwards and they also understood. Deep down I felt I had to race because I was still very much in the championship fight. I’ve always believed that as long as there’s a chance to fight, I have to take it. It wasn’t against anyone — it was just about being true to myself and Toyota understood it, providing amazing support in the last race in Morocco.”
You know the famous sentence: "If you no longer go for a gap that exists, you're no longer a racing driver". Was it all about this?
“Exactly. That quote says it all. If you stop going for opportunities, you lose what makes you a racer. Of course, if I was totally out of the championship, it would have been a completely different approach. But like I said, it’s all good now and we moved forward.”
“Senna is a huge inspiration [...] We have to carry on a legacy”
We saw a lot of emotion during your successes, in Portugal and then in Morocco. Where does it come from?
“It comes from passion, from years of work and sacrifice. When you finally win at this level, you remember everything — the struggles, the doubts, the people who supported you. Those emotions are real because you know how hard it was to get there.”
Brazilians like Ayrton Senna have written some of the nicest motorsport history pages... Is he an inspiration for you ?
“Senna is a huge inspiration. Not only for his talent, but for his mindset and intensity. For any Brazilian driver, being mentioned next to his name is something special. It reminds me that we have to carry on a legacy, and that racing is about much more than just driving fast.”
The big news of the week is that you are leaving Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC to join The Dacia Sandriders. Why this choice?
“Toyota was an amazing chapter of my career, and I’ll always be grateful for the amazing opportunity they gave me. At the same time, I felt it was time for a new challenge — to grow, to push myself in a new environment. Dacia has huge ambitions, and the project really excited me. It’s the right move for what I want next. Every big move comes with some uncertainty, but if you want to achieve great things, you have to take risks. I’ve learned that the biggest opportunities usually come when you aren’t totally ready for it. It will take a lot of work and dedication, but this is when you have the chance to really breakthrough.”
“The competition will be huge but that’s what pushes everyone”
You will also have a new navigator, Dennis Zenz. Why did you choose him?
“I had a great time with Armand, I learned a lot from him and we won a lot together. The decision to go with Dennis was based on his discipline, work ethic and experience. We connected right away, and we believe he can bring a lot to our performance, especially in the kind of consistency we need to win a long championship.”
What are your expectations for this first season in Dacia, in a new car but also with new teammates like Sébastien Loeb and Nasser Al Attiyah?
“It’s going to be a massive year. I know the competition inside and outside the team will be huge, but that’s what pushes everyone forward. The goal is to learn fast, get comfortable with the new car, and fight for wins as soon as possible. We are ready for it.”
