Carlos Sainz will participate in the Dakar 2025 aboard the new one Ford Raptor T1+ from the M-Sport team. For the Madrid native it is a return to his origins with the House of the Blue Oval and he will have to exploit every meter of the paths of the Rally of Morocco to get to know the new vehicle and adapt it as best as possible at the next Dakar Rally on Saudi territory.
Carlos Sainz Sr.: Morocco Rally essential to win the 2025 Dakar with Ford Raptor T1+
During the Morocco Rally, Carlos Sainz Sr. took home the first success for his Ford M-Sport Raptor T1+ at the end of Stage 4 of the competition. The reigning Dakar champion, who emerged victorious with the very powerful Audi RS Q e-tron, needed a new challenge also given Audi’s withdrawal from the rally competition par excellence due to full commitment to Formula 1 from 2026.
“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”explains the Spaniard to Motorsport.com. “I’m passionate about the idea of developing a new machine.”
As reiterated by himself, for Carlos Sainz Sr. this It’s not his first time as Ford’s representative. The Spaniard had two notable spells with the Blue Oval manufacturer in the WRC. In ’96-’97, he drove the Ford Escort RS Cosworth WRC. In 1997, managed to achieve a prestigious victory at the Acropolis Rally and closed the season in third place in the drivers’ championship, demonstrating its value and the competitiveness of the car. Returned in 2000 with the Ford Focus WRC, won the Cyprus Rally and helped keep Ford among the top teams, even without winning the title.
Carlos Sainz will be with the American brand in the 2025 Dakar aboard the powerful Raptor T1+ with which he became familiar during the Morocco Rally. Sainz has a very intimate history with the brand, as he himself says: “The first thing is that it is an official team, which has experience in rallies. Wilson (Malcolm, team manager) was counting on me, and then I must say that Ford is a brand for which I have great affection and sympathy: I believe 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, etc. The fact that Ford has decided to come to the Dakar Rally and that they have called me at this stage of my career gives me a good boost.” the Spaniard continued.
But the road will not be downhill, but rather tormented just like the impervious desert roads he has to face. In fact, the Morocco Rally serves as a great test bed for him and his new Raptor T1+. Sainz knows well that there will be strong and tenacious opponents to face, such as the prince of Qatar Nasser Al Attiyah who is experiencing his new adventure with Dacia on board the Sandriders T1+ in the Morocco Rally where he won on his debut. Knowing the car well and setting it up for the Dakar will be fundamental, but Sainz has good sensations: “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 we have to prove it in the race.”
Read also:
→ Final report on DAKAR 2024
→ Italians at the Dakar Rally 2024 arrival
→ Program 2024, route
→ All the news on the Dakar 2024
→ Everything about the Dakar Rally
→ Off-road and 4×4 activities
If you are passionate about off-roadfour-wheel drive and off-road adventures, don’t miss the ELABORARE4x4 magazine elaborate.com/4×4-subscription
→ What do you think? Drop by discussions on the FORUM!
#Carlos #Sainz #Dakar #mission #Ford #MSport