M-Sport has been developing the Ford Ranger T1+ alongside Neil Woolridge Motorsport [NWM] and Ford Performance to tackle next year’s Dakar Rally, which will be a first for the British squad.
The next stage of this venture will see the operation debut the Ranger for next year's Dakar at the Baja Spain Aragon Rally from 21-22 July.
This is the first step of a plan for a full factory-backed Ford effort to take on the Dakar in 2025. It will do so with an all-new Ranger T1+ to be developed ahead of that edition, supported by M-Sport and NWM.
Veteran competitor Roma will be one of two drivers to pilot the Ranger in Spain alongside Gareth Woolridge. Roma is one of a select few to have won the Dakar Rally on both two wheels and four, scoring his first triumph on a bike in 2004, before winning the car category in 2014 with Mini.
Roma has been a key member of the M-Sport and NWM development squad, with the Spaniard offering his extensive experience having made 25 Dakar starts.
“This has been a really nice process developing the Ranger T1+. The car has changed a lot since the first time I tested it compared to the last test we recently completed in Morocco,” said Roma.
“All the mechanics and engineers have done a super job in stabilising the car while improving reliability and increasing its performance capability. We have been working together in a good direction. The Ranger is a strong car - we still have some points to work on but it’s in a great position right now.
“I know M-Sport from years ago and the days of Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae. When I was riding bikes, I was also following rallying. M-Sport has always been a high-level team in the World Rally Championship, fighting for wins and championships. They are a group of ultra-professional people who are very good to work with.
Source: Autosport