Ford Raptor Debuts at the Dakar Rally with Carlos Sainz and Aims for Historic Victory in the Competition (Instagram @dakarrally)
Ford makes its debut at the Dakar Rally in 2025 with the Raptor T1+ model, a vehicle specially designed for this competition and other stages of the World Rally Cross-Country Championship (W2RC).
Equipped with a 5.0-liter V8 engine, the Raptor T1+ produces 360 horsepower, as per the category rules. Its robust suspension, with 350mm of travel and specialized shocks, is designed to withstand the extreme impacts of desert racing.
The vehicle was developed by M-Sport, Ford’s partner in the WRC, and is considered a highly prepared machine for the challenge.
Ford’s team includes experienced drivers like Carlos Sainz, five-time Dakar winner, and Nani Roma, who has victories in both the car and motorcycle categories at the Dakar. They are joined by other drivers like Mattias Ekstrom and Mitch Guthrie. The team has high expectations, especially after good performances at the Morocco Rally, but will face strong competition from newcomers like Dacia and specialist Nasser Al-Attiyah, as well as the always competitive Toyota Hilux and the X-Raid Mini team.
The 2025 Dakar Rally starts on January 3 with a prologue and runs until January 17, covering a total of 8,000 km, including 5,000 km of competitive stages. The competition promises to be intense, with many highly skilled cars and drivers competing for the win, and the Ford Raptor T1+ has a real chance to stand out, despite the technical challenges that may arise along the way.
Source: Car Magazine | Photo: Instagram @dakarrally | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
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