
Mattias Ekström and Emil Bergkvist bring their Ford Raptor T1+ race truck to a third place finish after a grueling 4,800 mile two-week long 2025 Dakar Rally. This is a big accomplishment, considering this is Ford’s first factory-backed Dakar effort with a new driver & navigator lineup. Here are the details. Let’s dig in!
Yazeed Al Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk take the overall T1+ class win in their Toyota Hilux Overdrive racing truck. Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings bring their Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux IMT Evo in second place. After 53 hours of raw off-road racing, only about 20 minutes separate the top three finishers.
USA-based Mitch Guthrie Jr and Kellon Walch bring their Ford Raptor T1+ in 5th place overall. USA-based Seth Quintero finished 9th overall in a Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux.
Just 36 T1+ racing vehicles finished the race, when 64 competitors in the T1 division started the race two weeks ago. Among those who had to withdraw are two highly decorated WRC and Dakar racers: Carlos Sainz Sr and Sebastien Loeb.
My complete video from 2025 Dakar is coming this Sunday. Please stay tuned.