Carlos Sainz Jr. tests the Ford Raptor T1+ in Zaragoza

Carlos Sainz Jr. got behind the wheel of his father's Ford Raptor in Zaragoza, first as a co-driver and then as the driver, navigating dirt and rocky terrain. Carlos Sainz Sr. guided him from the right-hand seat, reversing the roles from a session that Ferrari had organized months earlier.

Ferrari at Fiorano: December 2024

In December 2024, the Italian team allowed Sainz Sr. to drive the Ferrari F1-75 —the car with which his son achieved his first F1 victory at Silverstone 2022— as a farewell before Sainz Jr.'s move to Williams. At 62 years old, Sainz Sr. experienced an F1 car for the first time. "It's completely different from rally," he commented after completing several laps at Fiorano.

Photo By Ford

The session in Zaragoza completed the exchange. Lucas Cruz, Sainz Sr.'s usual navigator, gave up his seat so father and son could share the vehicle during preparation tests for the Rally of Morocco. Sainz Jr. first occupied the co-driver's seat and then took the wheel with his father guiding him from the right-hand seat.

Last Event Before the 2026 Dakar

The Rally of Morocco serves as the final tuning opportunity before the 2026 Dakar, scheduled three months later. As the final event of the W2RC, it allows teams to test configurations in real competition conditions before facing the most demanding race on the rally raid calendar.

Sainz Sr. has won the Dakar on four occasions: 2010 with Volkswagen, 2018 with Peugeot, 2020 with Mini, and 2024 with Audi. He now competes with Ford in a program developed by M-Sport, the British team responsible for the manufacturer's technical operations in rally raid.

Photo By Ford

The M-Sport Raptor T1+

M-Sport built the Raptor T1+ for the W2RC's Ultimate category. The vehicle uses a 5.0-liter V8 engine based on the Coyote, delivering 360 horsepower. The chassis combines T45 steel with carbon fiber panels, reaching a weight of 2,010 kilograms. The FOX Racing suspension offers 350 millimeters of travel, specifically designed to absorb the uneven terrain of rally raid.

At the 2025 Dakar, Mattias Ekström and Emil Bergkvist achieved third place overall in the Ultimate category and won Stage 11 in the Empty Quarter, securing Ford's first stage victory in their debut in the competition.