Carlos Sainz Sr. expressed great enthusiasm about his role and the new vehicle. "I’m very excited by this new project, to work with Ford for a fourth time and to return to M-Sport. My history with Ford goes back to 1987, and I’m very proud of that. I’m excited to be driving the Raptor and to approach this big challenge with a lot of goals. One is to help Ford win the Dakar Rally," he said.
Another confirmed driver for Ford's team is Nani Roma, celebrated for winning the Dakar on both motorcycles and in cars — a rare achievement.
The vehicle build is underway by M-Sport, Ford’s long-time World Rally Championship partners. The Raptor will feature a 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 engine standard in the road-going F-150 Raptor T1+ models, delivering up to 402 hp and 600 Nm (442 lb ft) of torque.
Ford holds a rich history with rally sports and partnerships extending beyond decades with teams like M-Sport contributing significantly to motorsports successes.
Source: Ford