After more than two weeks of gruelling racing across some of the harshest terrains on the planet, the Ford M-Sport team delivered unforgettable moments of skill, perseverance, and teamwork – and stage wins – in the Saudi desert.
Mattias Ekström and Emil Bergqvist took a decisive Stage 11 win in the Empty Quarter to claim third overall, second in the prologue by just one second off the leader, and third on Stage 5. Stage 7 saw Ekström finish second, with Mitch Guthrie Jr. finishing third on the podium. Guthrie went on to achieve a decisive result with a fifth-place finish, demonstrating great maturity and adding to his Dakar experience for the future. With Nani Roma also taking a stage win, the Ford Raptor T1+ showed it has what it takes to compete with the best on the world stage.
The event featured incredible achievements from Carlos Sainz Sr., Mitch Guthrie Jr., and Nani Roma. Sainz delivered one of the rally’s most epic moments during the 48 Hours Chrono stage. After an early rollover, he and co-driver Lucas Cruz refused to give up, and with crucial help from teammate Mitch Guthrie Jr., the legendary driver fought back to finish the stage – an extraordinary display of courage and teamwork and the embodiment of the Built Ford Tough team motto.
Nani Roma added a solid win on Stage 10, traversing the treacherous dunes to outpace the competition. Roma’s first stage win (and the first for the Ford M-Sport team) in a decade highlighted the breadth of talent within the Ford M-Sport team and the Raptor T1+’s ability to excel in extreme conditions.
Mitch Guthrie Jr., making his Dakar Rally debut in the Ultimate class and one of the few Americans competing, put in an impressive, clean, and fast race with co-driver Kellon Walsh to finish fifth overall.
The 2025 Dakar Rally highlighted the advanced engineering behind the Ford Raptor T1+. The Raptor T1+ featured advanced FOX shock absorbers found only on Ford’s four Dakar race vehicles and an unmistakable Coyote-based 5.0-litre V8 engine that roared across the desert over the 12 days of competition.
The Ford Performance team is looking forward to the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, where you can expect to see – and hear – the T1+ during the 2025 season.
