In addition to the third place of Mattias Ekstrom – Emil Bergkvist, another Ford Raptor T1+ crewed by Mitch Guthrie Jr – Kellon Walch managed to distinguish itself in the most demanding Rally Raid race on the planet by taking fifth place in the general classification
Against the background of the sand dunes and the extremely demanding terrain of Saudi Arabia, the Dakar Rally emerged again this year within the framework of the FIA ​​World Rally Raid Championship as the ultimate test for men and machines. For 2025 and in partnership with M-Sport, Ford Performance entered the race with a full roster of crews in the top-spec T1+ class armed with the rugged Raptor T1+, which proved not only its speed but its supreme reliability after 14 days, 12 special routes and almost 8,000 km in some of the most difficult and demanding terrains on the planet.
Confirming once again Ford’s “Built Tough” philosophy, the new Raptor T1+ of Mattias Ekstrom – Emil Bergkvist managed to overcome every obstacle and successfully cope with all the challenges that this demanding race traditionally presents every year, emphatically conquering the this year’s Dakar Rally the victory in the special route 11, as well as the third place in the general classification of the race.
“We can be very proud as a team as we were able to fight at the top and have a good pace and stability,” said Matthias Ekstrom immediately after the completion of this year’s marathon. “The quality of the Ford Raptor T1+ was outstanding in this incredibly tough race. Now I can’t wait to get back at him next year and push for the win.”
With luck turning against Carlos Sainz – Lucas Cruz early on and with Nani Roma – Alex Haro struggling, Ford Performance’s success in this year’s Dakar Rally was capped off in the most ideal way with a fifth place finish in the general classification of the Ford Raptor T1+ race Mitch Guthrie Jr – Kellon Walch in the debut of the American crew in the Ultimate class.
“The Dakar Rally is unlike any other motorsport challenge and this year our team rose to the occasion,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance. “Mattias, Carlos, Mitch, Nani and the whole team proved the capabilities of the Ford Raptor T1+ and the durability that characterizes Ford cars. It was an unforgettable match and I am proud of our team. We have proven that the Raptor has the speed and endurance required to compete in the toughest and most demanding environments on the planet. And now we look forward to the rest of the FIA ​​World Rally Raid Championship.”
Matthew Wilson, Team Principal, Team Ford M-Sport, said: “Getting a podium place and two cars in the top five in our first attempt with the Ford Raptor T1+ is a great start. It’s been a unique experience – the team has been incredible over the last three weeks. We now focus on the rest of the Rally Raid championship season with more enthusiasm and confidence.”
Ford’s participation in both this year’s Dakar Rally and the FIA ​​World Rally Raid Championship is nothing less than the result of the ‘Build Tough’ philosophy and the rich heritage of the American company, which spans more than five decades and is filled with unmatched successes and major accolades in off-road racing.
Ford Raptor T1+: Innovation meets durability
The T1+ category is the top class in the FIA ​​World Rally Raid Championship. It features purpose-built vehicles powered by production engines – and Ford Performance’s M-Sport-backed Raptor T1+ is built to exacting standards and specifications.
The new Raptor T1+ is powered by Ford’s 5.0-liter Coyote engine, which features V8, 32 valves, 93mm bore and 92.7mm stroke. It is supported by an advanced electronic management system, which bears the signature of Bosch, ensuring optimal performance in all conditions. By opting for a naturally aspirated V8, the new Raptor T1+ manages to keep weight down while avoiding the complexity of a turbocharged engine, while gaining significant torque gains.
Also, the advanced spaceframe of the Raptor T1+ offers top strength incorporating high quality materials thanks to the top technical support provided by M-Sport in collaboration with Ford Performance. This frame was developed after thousands of hours of Finite Element Analysis (FEA), achieving among other things exceptional stiffness and durability.
With a weight of 2,010 kg, beastly 37″ wheels, a length of 4,585 mm, a width of 2.3 m and a wheelbase that reaches 3.0 m, the Raptor T1+ is undeniably large. Nevertheless, its design has been carried out with the aim of achieving low center of gravity, despite the 400 mm distance of the body from the ground.
The independent and fully adjustable double-wishbone front and rear suspension of Ford Performance’s new thoroughbred race car maximizes structural strength, thanks to its lightweight design and successful efforts by its designers to minimize unsprung mass. At the same time, eight total FOX shock absorbers, together with an equal number of Eibach springs, ensure a wheel travel of up to 350 mm.
Both front and rear, as well as the center differential of the Raptor T1+ are limited slip, with the inexhaustible power of Ford’s naturally aspirated 5.0 V8 Coyote engine going to all four wheels via an advanced four-wheel drive system and a Sadev 6-speed serial gearbox . Also, specially designed fans cool the Raptor T1+’s performance-leading braking system, which consists of 6-piston calipers and 355mm discs.
Source: Skai
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