Dakar Rally 2026: Ford Racing secures double podium finish in Saudi Arabia
The 2026 edition of the Dakar Rally has wrapped up in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, and Ford Racing leaves the desert with serious momentum. A double overall podium, six stage wins, and multiple all-Ford stage results underline just how competitive the Ford Raptor T1+ has become at the highest level of Rally-Raid competition.
Across two brutal weeks of dunes, rocky plateaus, and punishing liaison sections, the Blue Oval proved that its rally programme is no longer building. It is competing at the sharp end.
Double podium seals Ford’s progress
The final 105 km sprint stage delivered a dramatic close to the rally. Mattias Ekstrom and co-driver Emil Bergkvist powered their Ford Raptor T1+ to a stage win, securing third overall. It marked their second consecutive Dakar podium finish and capped a campaign built on consistency and controlled aggression.
Ekström’s four stage victories across the rally highlighted the outright pace of the Raptor T1+, especially deep into the second week where endurance and navigation often decide the podium.
Just ahead of them in the overall standings, Nani Roma and co-driver Alex Haro secured second place overall. For Roma, the result was particularly meaningful. It was his first Dakar podium in seven years and his first since returning to competition following his recovery from cancer. In a rally that tests both machine and mind, the result carried weight far beyond statistics.
Strong factory depth across the field
The strength of the Ford effort extended beyond the podium positions. Carlos Sainz Sr and co-driver Lucas Cruz delivered a solid fifth overall finish after navigating the relentless Saudi terrain.
American pairing Mitch Guthrie Jr and Kellon Walch added further highlights to the campaign. They claimed a stage win and multiple podium finishes, reinforcing the depth within the factory lineup.
The result was not a one-car charge. It was a coordinated programme delivering results across multiple entries.
Customer teams prove the Raptor T1+ platform
One of the biggest storylines of Dakar 2026 was Ford’s expanding customer racing programme. The Ford Raptor T1+ was not only competitive in factory hands, but also in privateer entries.
Both Romain Dumas and Martin Prokop recorded second-place stage finishes in their customer-run Raptor T1+ machines. These results underline the versatility and durability of the platform across different team structures and operational setups.
Notably, Dakar saw multiple all-Ford Raptor T1+ stage podiums, a rare achievement in modern Rally-Raid competition and a clear signal that the vehicle’s competitiveness is not isolated to a single crew.
Built for Dakar, focused on the next step
Dakar remains the ultimate proving ground. It is not only about outright speed, but about durability, navigation precision, and mechanical resilience across thousands of kilometres.
Ford Racing leadership acknowledged the progress while remaining focused on the ultimate goal. A double podium, multiple stage wins, and strong customer results represent major strides for the programme. Yet the target remains the top step of the podium.
With a third-place finish in 2025 followed by second and third overall in 2026, the trajectory is clear. The Ford Raptor T1+ has established itself as a genuine contender in Rally-Raid’s premier arena.
As the dust settles in Saudi Arabia, Ford Racing now turns its attention to the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship season. Momentum is on its side. The next objective is obvious.
