Ford gears up for 2025 Dakar debut with revamped Raptor T1+
Ford Performance and M-Sport have prepared a new version of the rally Raptor T1+ that they will use this season, participating in several rallies. This will be their preparation for debuting in the 2025 Dakar Rally, which will kick off Ford's campaign in this iconic event.
Yes, Ford already fielded their team in the 2024 Dakar, but it was a debut treated solely as a test. Although the drivers achieved decent results, the team's main goal was to gain experience and observe the competition. Even the cars were not the newest, as the construction was covered with the body of the previous generation Ranger. The real sporting debut will come in 2025.
Ford has already presented the current version of the rally car, which no longer resembles a factory vehicle, but at least it references the current look of the Ranger. It's even unclear if it's a reference to the Ranger or the F-150, but it's known that the vehicle has been named Ford Raptor T1+. The Ford brand will join other manufacturers - including Toyota and Dacia - competing in next year's Dakar, the longest-running rally in the world.
The vehicle will be powered by a V8, a 5-litre engine based on the Coyote design. The suspension, of course, is an independent system supported by a tubular construction. Behind the new Ford Raptor T1+ wheel will be four teams of drivers and co-drivers, including rally legends Carlos Sainz Sr. with co-driver Lucas Cruz and Nani Roma with co-driver Alex Haro. Additional teams are still in preparation.
The hired drivers are very experienced Dakar rally competitors. In addition to his performances in the WRC, Carlos Sainz performs even better in desert rallies. He is this year's winner (behind the wheel of an Audi) and also won Dakar in 2020 (Mini), 2018 (Peugeot), and 2010 (Volkswagen).
Nani Roma hasn't achieved as many victories, but his experience is beyond dispute. He won Dakar for the first time on a KTM motorcycle in 2004. Ten years later, he achieved victory by car for the Mini team.
An essential element of the rally puzzle is the support of Red Bull, which has been the biggest sponsor of the best teams in the Dakar Rally for years.
Plan for 2024
After the recent debut at the Goodwood Festival, Ford has already outlined their start programme for this year, with participation in selected rallies as preparation for Dakar.
The new car's first appearance will be on 8-10 August at Baja, Hungary. This rally differs entirely from Dakar, as it mostly takes place on narrow, twisting routes. In October, the Ford Raptor T1+ will compete in the Morocco Rally, which resembles the Arabian Dakar routes. The Dacia Sandrider, with Sebastien Loeb and Nasser Al-Attiyah behind the wheel, will also debut in this rally.
