Ford Raptor Teams Claim Second and Third at 2026 Dakar Rally

Ford’s push for an overall Dakar Rally victory showed clear progress in 2026, even if the final result stopped short of the automaker’s ultimate goal. After a promising debut the previous year, Ford returned to the world’s most demanding off-road race with a revised Raptor T1+ and placed two teams on the overall podium.

The 2026 Dakar Rally marked the second competitive outing for the Ford Raptor T1+, following a third-place finish in its 2025 debut. With additional development aimed at closing the gap to the front of the field, Ford’s factory-backed entries ran at the sharp end of the competition from the opening stages and maintained their presence among the leaders throughout the event.

Nani Roma delivered Ford’s highest overall result, finishing second after overcoming setbacks that included a crash and a broken front axle. The result denied Roma his third career Dakar win and his first since 2014, but still represented a strong recovery effort across the multi-stage rally. Close behind him, Mattias Ekstrom secured third place after winning three individual stages and fighting through an intense battle for the final podium position.

Ekstrom ultimately sealed his podium finish by winning the final stage, a result that underscored Ford’s competitive pace and consistency across the rally. The double-podium finish marked a step forward for the program, even as the top spot once again remained out of reach.

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Overall victory went to Dacia driver Nasser Al-Attiyah, who added a sixth Dakar win to his career total. The result moved him closer to the all-time record of eight wins held by Stephane Peterhansel and reinforced his reputation as one of the event’s most successful competitors.

The 2026 rally also reflected a more balanced competitive landscape compared with the previous year. Ten different drivers from five manufacturers recorded individual stage wins, a notable contrast to the prior edition, which saw Toyota dominate much of the event.

While Ford’s leadership has made no secret of its ambition to claim an outright Dakar win, the 2026 results suggest the program continues to trend in the right direction. With two podium finishes and demonstrated stage-winning speed, expectations are likely to be high for further refinements and another challenge in the year ahead.