There are less than one hundred days left until Dakar 2025… and only one race to prepare for it: the Morocco Rally. For Carlos Sainz, the race organized by David Castera is the beginning of a new adventure.
After leading Audi to success last January, the two-time world rally champion who boasts four successes with four different manufacturers in the great African marathon (Volkswagen, Peugeot, Mini and Audi) is once again getting involved with the American giant Ford with which he won his first title, winning the Spanish championship in 1987. In the same year he also made his debut in the World Championship driving a Ford Sierra in the Portugal Rally in which he immediately won the opening super special.
For the reigning champion it is a sort of return to his origins and there is much anticipation for the debut of the Ford Raptor T1+, the new arrival on the rally-raid scene, developed by Malcolm Wilson’s M-Sport. The stakes are high: Ford could become the first American manufacturer to win the Dakar.
Carlos, is this a sort of return to origins?
“At this stage of my career I needed a lot of motivation and I like the idea of racing with Ford, the company I started with many years ago. I’m passionate about the idea of developing a new machine.”
What convinced you about this project?
“First of all, it is an official team that has experience in rallies. Wilson counted and then I must say that Ford is a brand for which I have great affection and sympathy. I think this is my fourth chapter with Ford: with them I won the Spanish championship, I made my debut in the World Championship, I won rallies with the Focus, the Escort… The fact that Ford has decided to come to the Dakar and that I called at this stage of my career gives me a good boost.”
Ford Raptor T1+
Photo credit: Red Bull Content Pool
Satisfied with the state of development of the Ford Raptor?
“I’m happy with what we did with the time we had. I have a good feeling with the car. We did a good job, but now it’s time to verify it in the race.”
The Morocco Rally represents the moment of truth.
“After many tests. the race is the real ground to check where we are in terms of competitiveness and trust thermometer. they are two key elements that go hand in hand and can only be confirmed in a racing context.”
After winning with the Audi e-tron, what does it feel like to drive a “normal” car? “The experience with Audi was super interesting and I had to learn many things. The new Ford Raptor follows a different direction, but it is still a very developed car, especially in terms of suspension and suspension.”
What does it mean to have Ford at the Dakar?
“The arrival of Ford, but also of Dacia and the presence of Toyota and Mini is very important for the Rally Raid category. The presence of official teams is a very positive sign for our sport. This year the car race will be interesting with champions distributed across four brands: Ford, Dacia, Mini and Toyota. “A very interesting Dakar is certainly expected.”
What are the expectations?
“It’s still too early to tell. The Ford project is completely new and we have to wait for at least one race.”
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