Ford Performance is delighted to announce today its participation in the 2025 Dakar Rally, while offering a first glimpse of its weapon of choice for this iconic race: the Dakar Ford Raptor.
At the same time, Ford Performance is delighted to announce two of the four Dakar Ford Raptor drivers - Carlos Sainz Sr. and Nani Roma.
As part of a relationship forged at the start of his nearly 40-year racing career, Spanish champion Carlos Sainz Sr. returns to Ford with the aim of taking the Dakar Ford Raptor to his fifth victory in the most demanding rally-raid race on the planet.
In turn, two-time race winner Nani Roma now extends his partnership with Ford and M-Sport, which began in 2024.
Real-world testing of the new Ford Raptor has already begun as Ford Performance aims to successfully complete one of the world's toughest and most demanding races.
With its imminent entry into the 2025 Dakar Rally, Ford is not only reinforcing its presence and loyalty to motorsport at a global level, but also its commitment to off-road racing following its participation in 2024 with the Ranger T1+.
Statements:
Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsport
"In Ford's recent history the scale of our off-road racing ambitions is unparalleled and nothing is clearer in those ambitions than the challenge of bringing the Ford Raptor to the legendary Dakar Rally. Taking on such a challenge requires the best engineers, designers, team members, navigators and drivers, and in Nani Roma and Carlos Sainz Sr. we have two of the most experienced and successful drivers in Dakar history. In testing the Ford Raptor has already shown its potential and having two of the best drivers in the world with us gives us confidence to continue its development."
Matthew Wilson, M-Sport director & Dakar Team Manager
"I'm very happy to welcome Nani back to the team after an excellent run this year in the Dakar Rally with the Ranger T1+. His experience and knowledge has been invaluable to us, and I'm sure we will continue to learn from him as this exciting programme progresses. Carlos is a racing legend and one of the most successful drivers in all forms of off-road racing. His decision to return to Ford and M-Sport after so many years is a huge boost for the team. It's great to have him back in the big Ford family, ready to take on the huge challenge of the Dakar Rally. With testing underway, we now have a great opportunity to learn from the best and further advance the development of the Ford Raptor."
Carlos Sainz Sr., driver
"I'm very excited about this new project for the Dakar Rally and to be working with Ford again for the fourth time. I'm delighted to be back with M-Sport and Malcolm who I know very well, it's really great. My history with Ford goes back to 1987. I think I was Malcolm's first driver, his first factory driver, and I'm very proud of that. I'm really excited to be driving the Raptor. I'm facing this big challenge with a lot of goals. One of them is to help Ford win the Dakar Rally."
Nani Roma, driver
"I'm delighted to be part of this huge project with Ford, an iconic brand in motorsport. Combined with a team with the history and heritage of M-Sport, to create something completely new is more than exciting. The next Dakar is not far away, so now is the time to work hard. Both Alex and I are delighted to have extremely dedicated and talented engineers around us, but also a great team - we'll get up in the morning every day and do what we love with people who share the same passion. That's the best feeling!"
