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Mattias Ekström Joins Ford Performance for 2025 Dakar Rally
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Rally and off-road driver Mattias Ekström will be joining Ford Performance for the 2025 Dakar Rally, Ford (NYSE: F) said today. Ekström, a two-time DTM champion, World Rallycross champion, and experienced rally raid competitor, will join Mitch Guthrie Jr, Nani Roma, and Carlos Sainz Sr in piloting the Ford Raptor T1+.
“Bringing Mattias Ekström into the Ford Performance family is a big step forward for our Dakar program,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance. “Mattias brings a wealth of experience in rally and off-road racing, and his skills add to a formidable team in the Ford Raptor T1+. The Dakar Rally is a test like no other, but we’re confident in our lineup.”
Ekström’s background includes success in rally, circuit racing, and off-road competition – this includes multiple Dakar Rally appearances.
“Joining the Ford Dakar program is really exciting for me,” said Mattias Ekström. “Ford and M-Sport have built a vehicle that looks, sounds, and drives awesome and we all have a common ambition to win the Dakar Rally. I have had four tries at Dakar so far and now I can say that I have some experience to be able to aim for the top. There is also a lot of knowledge and experience in the team to back up the ambition – starting with the long motorsport heritage of Ford, proven track record of M-Sport, very impressive driver line-up, smart engineers, technicians, and the rest of the team. I look forward to the first competitive outing with the Ford Raptor T1+ at Rally du Maroc and later at the Dakar Rally. I am in it to win it and I hope we will have very successful and great years ahead of us. I will do everything in my power to make it happen.”
“We have followed Mattias’ career for a long time, from his DTM days to the FIA World Rallycross, and now the Dakar Rally,” said Matthew Wilson, M-Sport. “He has shown fantastic speed and ability in all forms of motorsport and his performances in off-road racing have been no different.”