The final 105-kilometer stage sprint delivered a decisive conclusion to the rally. Mattias Ekström and co-driver Emil Bergkvist claimed the stage win to secure third place overall, locking in Ford’s second consecutive Dakar podium finish for the duo and capping a rally defined by consistency. Ekström recorded four stage wins across the event, highlighting both pace and navigation deep into the second week.

Just ahead of them in the overall standings, Nani Roma and co-driver Alex Haro completed an exceptional Dakar to finish second on the podium. Their performance on the final stage confirmed Roma’s first Dakar podium in seven years - and his first since returning to competition following his recovery from cancer - marking one of the most meaningful results of the 2026 rally.

Carlos Sainz and co-driver Lucas Cruz added to Ford’s factory effort with a fifth-overall finish after two demanding weeks across Saudi Arabia. American driving team Mitch Guthrie Jr. and Kellon Walch also delivered standout performances, taking a stage win and multiple podiums.

Beyond the factory entries, Ford’s first Dakar customer racing program delivered strong performances of its own. Romain Dumas and Martin Prokop each recorded second-place stage finishes in the Ford Raptor T1+, underscoring the competitiveness of the platform beyond the factory lineup.

Dakar recorded multiple all-Ford Raptor T1+ stage podiums, marking a clear signal of the depth and capability of the Raptor T1+ program.

“Dakar is the ultimate proving ground, not just for outright speed, but for durability, teamwork, and trust in the vehicle,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Racing. “To leave Dakar with a double podium, multiple stage wins and all-Ford podiums, and strong results from both our factory and customer teams says a lot about how far this program has come. But Dakar also makes it clear what it takes to win. We’re proud of this result, but it makes us even more focused on the next step. We’re committed to this program, and we’ll keep pushing to get to the top step of this race."

Following a third-place finish in 2025 and now a second- and third-place overall result in 2026, the Ford Raptor T1+ continues to prove itself as a force to be reckoned with at the highest level of rally-raid competition. With factory and customer teams delivering results across the board, Ford Racing departs Dakar with momentum and a clear foundation for what comes next: the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship season.