Dakar favorites in cars: Carlos Sainz, to defend the crown against Dacia and Toyota

The battle with cars on Dakar 2025 It looks exciting. This time, an atypical event occurs: two of the three favorite teams arrive with new cars, at the beginning of their projects. This is about Ford and Daciathey will face a painting Toyota with a more experienced base.

Ford debuted last year at the Dakar to understand what its specific car needs. 2025a Ford Raptor T1+ who debuts with the goal of winning. Your main leader Carlos Sainz with his co-pilot Lucas Cruz. The current champion of Dakar He closed the “most ambitious” project of his career in the best possible way by winning the Audi for the first time in history with an electrified car.

He improved his record as the oldest winner in history at the age of 61 and as the champion with the most different brands (4), and far from retirement, he accepted the challenge of taking the oval firm to the top. At 62 years old, he will be looking to become the first to win with 5 different companies. No one wins the Dakar with a new car, but Carlos He also wants to tear down that wall.

Ford bet on two different elements. While its rivals had turbo engines and Fox suspensions, the American firm opted for a naturally aspirated V8 engine and Reiger suspensions.

Another Ford favorite is Nani Romewith his ‘copy’ Àlex Haroback in a competitive car after a few years away from victories and after Nani overcame bladder cancer. In his 28th participation he will be looking for his 2nd victory in the cars. The man from Folgueroles developed the car and he knows Ford best in a team where he also Ekström is in battle.

Dacia came with a new car, a Sandrider where they focused on reducing weight in a smaller car with a factory-built engine. Alpine of F1. The car is new, although Dacia has the experience of its partner, Prodrive, which has fought for the title in previous editions. It has a ‘Dream Team’: the five-time champion Nasser Al-Attiyahthe candidate Sébastien Loeb and the Burgos native Cristina Gutiérrez, debutant in the top category.

Toyota has a longer Hilux with a new engine, a reliable car and a more experienced team, but it doesn’t have a big star. It has the youth of Quintero and a Moraes accompanied by Catalan Armand Monleon.

To them we must add pilots of Toyota Overdrive as always very fast Yazeed Al-Rajhiwho however does not have the courage and head to manage the race, as happened last year when he left in the middle of a match. We also need to be attentive to Mini X-Raidas in the case of the Portuguese boy Joao Ferreira or Guillaume de Méviussecond in the last Dakar and great revelation of the 2024 edition.

Dakar favorites by car

Carlos Sainz

The current champion makes his Ford debut to defend his title. Only one winner in history with an electrified car (2024), with 4 different brands and the oldest winner at age 61. Twice world rally champion (1990 and 1992).

Nationality: Spain

Age: 62 years (April 12, 1962, Madrid)

Team: Ford M-Sport

Participations: 18th participation

Best position: 4 wins (2010, 2018, 2020, 2024)

Stage wins: 42

2

Sebastien Loeb

The 9-time WRC champion moved on to the Dakar in 2016 but had no luck in his 8 attempts. He will try it again with the new DACIA project.

Nationality: France

Age: 50 years (02/26/1974)

Team: DACIA

Participations: 9th participation

Best position: 2nd (2017, 2022 and 2023)

Stage wins: 23

3

Nasser Al-Attiyah

5-time Dakar champion, he left his victories at Toyota to go to BRX in 2024, where he did not beat Sainz. Now he debuts in DACIA to reclaim the throne.

Nationality: Qatar

Age: 54 years (12/21/1970)

Team: DACIA

Participations: 21st participation

Best position: 5 wins (2011, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2023)

Stage wins: 48

4

Seth Quintero

Author of a record in 2022 of 12 stage victories in a Challenger edition. He jumped to the premier class in 2024, but some technical problems kept him out of contention.

Nationality: United States

Age: 22 years (09/12/2002)

Team: Toyota Gazoo Racing

Participations: 2nd participation in the highest category (5th Dakar)

Best position: 42nd in cars, 2nd in Challenger (2023)

Stage wins: 20 in Challenger

5

Lucas Moraes

He debuted in 2023 as the best rookie with a final podium and secured a place in the official Toyota team with his Catalan co-driver Armand Monleón.

Nationality: Brazil

Age: 35 years (12/12/1989)

Team: Toyota Gazoo Racing

Participations: 3rd participation

Best position: 3rd (2023, rookie)

Stage win:-

6

Nani Rome

Double winner of the Dakar (car and motorcycle), he was the driver who developed the new Ford Raptor T1+ from scratch

Nationality: Spain

Age: 52 years (01/17/1972)

Team: Ford M-Sport

Participations: 28th participation

Best position: 2 wins (2004, motorcycle; 2014, car)

Stage victories: 12 by car, 17 by motorcycle

7

Yazeed Al-Rajhi

Very fast, but he just knows how to attack and usually pays for it. In 2024 he abandoned the queen stage when he was the overall leader after 3 stage wins

Nationality: Saudi Arabia

Age: 43 years (05/05/1981)

Team: Toyota Overdrive

Participations: 11th participation

Best position: 3rd (2022)

Stage wins: 7

8

Mattias Ekström

Multipurpose pilot. Champion of the DTM (2004 and 2007) and the World Rallycross Championship (2016), he was key in helping Sainz last year. The Swede suffered engine problems when he was 2nd.

Nationality: Sweden

Age: 46 years (07/14/1978)

Team: Ford M-Sport

Finishes: 4th in car, 5th overall

Best position: 9th (2022)

Stage wins: 2