Morocco – The four-time Dakar winner is preparing for a new adventure with Ford and M-Sport. The two time world champion,  multiple Dakar winner  and father of the Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz jr made this choice after Audi’s withdrawal from rally raids.

Less than a hundred days remain until Dakar 2025… and just one race to prepare: the Morocco Rally. For Carlos Sainz, the event organized by David Castera marks the start of a new adventure.

After leading Audi to victory last January, the two-time World Rally Champion, who boasts four successes in the African marathon with four different manufacturers (Volkswagen, Peugeot, Mini, and Audi), is stepping back into the game with the American giant Ford, with whom he won his first title, clinching the Spanish championship in 1987. That same year, he also made his World Championship debut behind the wheel of a Ford Sierra at the Portugal Rally, where he immediately won the opening special stage.

For the reigning champion, this is a sort of return to his roots, and there is great anticipation for the debut of the Ford Raptor T1+, the newcomer to the rally raid scene developed by M-Sport, led by Malcolm Wilson. The stakes are high: Ford could become the first American manufacturer to win the Dakar.

Carlos, is this a sort of return to your roots?
“At this stage of my career, I needed a significant motivation, and I like the idea of racing with Ford, the brand I started with many years ago. I’m excited about the prospect of developing a new car.”

What convinced you about this project?
“First of all, it’s an official team with rally experience. Wilson played a key role, and I must say that Ford is a brand I hold in high regard. I believe this is my fourth chapter with Ford: I won the Spanish championship with them, debuted in the World Championship, and won rallies with the Focus and the Escort… The fact that Ford decided to come to Dakar and called me at this stage of my career really motivates me.”

Are you satisfied with the development status of the Ford Raptor?
“I’m happy with what we’ve accomplished given the time we’ve had. I have a good feeling about the car. We’ve done a great job, but now it’s time to test it in competition.”

The Morocco Rally represents the moment of truth.
“After so many tests, the race is the true ground to assess our competitiveness and reliability. These are two key elements that go hand in hand and can only be confirmed in a race context.”

After winning with the Audi e-tron, what’s it like to drive a “normal” car?
“The experience with Audi was super interesting, and I had to learn a lot. The new Ford Raptor is going in a different direction, but it’s still a very developed car, especially in terms of performance and suspension.”

What does it mean to have Ford at the Dakar?
“Ford’s arrival, along with 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 among four brands: Ford, Dacia, Mini, and Toyota. It’s definitely shaping up to be a very exciting Dakar.”

What are your expectations?
“It’s still too early to say. The Ford project is completely new, and we need to wait for at least one race.”

Photo: Credits: Ford