Ford Racing isn’t easing into its second year at Dakar, they’re charging in with intention. After a strong debut in 2025, including a podium finish and the brand’s first-ever Dakar stage victory, Ford M-Sport is returning with a sharper, tougher, and faster Ford Raptor T1+ built to take on one of the most brutal motorsport challenges on the planet.
A Better, Stronger, Faster Raptor T1+
Ford M-Sport took everything learned during the 2025 debut and turned it into a year-long development program. The result is a Raptor T1+ that’s been refined from nose to tail to not only survive but thrive across the deep dunes and rocky canyons of Saudi Arabia.
What’s New for 2026
The improvements are extensive, targeted, and built around the realities of Dakar’s punishing terrains. Compared to 2025, the new T1+ had improved suspension, braking and transmission upgrades for greater stability at high speeds and durability for long stage days.
The vehicle is also lighter, traditional side mirrors have been replaced with cameras, and the body panels are carbon fiber, and the butterfly doors have been replaced with gullwing doors, making the truck not only lighter, but more aerodynamic bodywork.
There is some new DRL lighting to cut through dust, dawn, and late-day shadows in anticipation of terrain providing limited visibility.
Ford has replaced the windshield to a polycarbonate-laminate one that’s been engineered to take the hits when the rocks start flying or to stay intact with the extreme flexes and possible roll overs that can and do happen in the sand.
But the real powerhouse of this truck remains the 5.0-liter Coyote Darkhorse V8, a naturally aspirated brute that showed real promise in 2025. It has been tuned throughout the year on multiple continents; the engine is now expected to deliver even more consistency across Dakar’s extreme heat and altitude swings. And, that sound, unique and amazing.
This is not just an evolution of last year’s truck; it’s a full commitment of the team to fight for the win.
Multiple Ford Backed Teams to Follow at Dakar
If the trucks signal serious intent, the driver roster seals the deal. Ford M-Sport returns with several M-Sport Raptor T1+ trucks in the Rally.
Ford Racing Team
As of this writing, and according to the entries on the Dakar website, there are a total of 7 entries in 2026 driving the Raptor, 4 Ford Factory teams and 3 Privateer Ford backed teams. This in an incredible line-up, and rightly so, because Ford Racing has marching orders from the top to win at Dakar. Here are the teams:
221-Driver Martin Prokop & Navigator Viktor Chytka (privateer)
225-Driver Carlos Sainz & Navigator Lucas Cruz (Ford Racing)
226-Mattias Ekstrom & Emil Bergqvist (Ford Racing) Took Bronze in 2025 & one stage win
227-Nani Roma & Alex Haro (Ford Racing) Took one stage win
228-Mitch Guthrie & Kellon Walch (USA)
236-Romain Dumas & Nav TBA
299-Jourdan Serderidis & Frederic Miclotte
2026 Dakar Rally Overview
The 48th running of the Dakar Rally kicks off January 3–17, 2026, with a looped start and finish in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. Organizers are calling this route one of the toughest in the rally’s recent history.
What Awaits the Teams
The Prologue is scheduled for January 3rd and will be followed by 13 stages, making this a 2-week competition. There will be over 5,000km (3100 miles) of timed competition through a punishing mix of mountains and canyons, dune fields, flat-out desert plains, and sharp technical rock sections that will take out tires.
Pretty cool that the vehicle includes built in jacks to lift the truck for quick tire changes.
We got to see the 2024 truck at King of the Hammers this year and posed the Rebelle Sport with it.
As with all types of multi-day endurance sports, strategy and resilience are key and mechanical sympathy can mean the difference between a DNF and a podium.
Ford’s Mission for 2026: Win Dakar
With the hardware upgraded, the driver lineup strengthened, and an entire year of development behind the program, Ford arrives at Dakar 2026 with a bold but clear target.
This isn’t about showing potential anymore.
This isn’t about gathering data.
Ford is going to Dakar to win.
Is this the year for gold at Dakar? Stay tuned for the final line-up and how to follow the race as we get closer to 2026.
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