“We are here to change history”
CREW FACTS…
N.R.
- Nani Roma is to the Dakar what one of four wheels is to a car: indispensable. This January, he will participate for the 28th time in a brand new 4x4 prototype: the Ford Raptor T1+, developed by Ford Performance and M-Sport.
- The Folgueroles native is part of a stellar line-up that includes Carlos Sainz, Mattias Ekström and Mitch Guthrie. He is one of only three competitors in Dakar history to have won the legendary race on a motorbike (2004, with KTM) and in a car (2014, with Mini X-raid).
- Although he played football as a child, he was quickly drawn to motorcycling, and in 1991 finished runner-up in the Spanish 125cc Enduro Junior Championship. His first Dakar participation was in 1996, and immediately, he turned heads with a stage victory.
- He has even competed in the race with his wife, Rosa Romero, who has participated in 10 editions of the world's most challenging race.
- With more than 6,000 km of testing under his belt, since he started working with the American brand and the British preparer in March 2023, he is keen to shatter the maxim that a new project never wins on the Dakar Rally on the first attempt.
A.H.
- Álex Haro will contest his 11th consecutive Dakar since debuting in 2015 with Andorra's Albert Llovera.
- He has been a co-driver for more than 20 years between rallies and rally-raids, and in 2010, he won the World Rally Championship in the Super 2000 category alongside Xavi Pons. as part of Malcolm Wilson and M-Sport's project, with whom he now returns.
- The Catalan co-driver forms an almost inseparable duo with Nani Roma, with whom he has competed in more than half of his races and with whom he finished runner-up in 2019.
AMBITIONS 2025
N.R.: “I'm so much looking forward to my 28th Dakar. I have worked very hard with Ford Performance and M-Sport since March 2023. I put in more than 6,000 kilometres of testing and have had a great time. The most fun thing in life is to keep learning things, and I keep finding fun, exciting challenges and new topics, and that's a fantastic surprise. We have a great team, and I am thrilled. Although I have not had an easy time over the last two years on a personal level, I am very motivated and confident on a professional level because, in terms of performance, we can compete with all our rivals; I have no doubts.”
“We have worked very well together with Carlos (Sainz) and Mattias (Ekstrom). We are super motivated, although we know that the first few years are usually difficult, and it is always like that. The only thing that worries us is the small details. The health of the Dakar and the rally-raids is amazing in terms of manufacturers, teams and drivers. This year, we are all going with very similar technologies in every decisive aspect of the cars, and it will be a very competitive race. Our rivals are more experienced. We are the only ones starting with a new car created from scratch, but we are here to change history.”
A.H.: “This year, we are very excited and happy with the big project we have in our hands. We have worked very hard and completed a lot of development work. Co-driving with Nani is an absolute pleasure, and we are more than just driver and co-driver; we are friends. Expectations? We will only know how we compare to our rivals once we start.”
“What is clear is that the first week of the Dakar will be extremely tough and demanding, both physically and mechanically: the 48-hour marathon stage. It will be crucial to arrive as prepared as possible because a small mistake in the first few days can ruin everything. In addition, the bar for navigation is getting higher and higher. It will be one of the toughest Dakars in Saudi Arabia, but that suits us. We have all the ingredients, the team has pulled out all the stops, and when you have all the resources at your disposal, you must appreciate that you are lucky and recognise that you are ready to fight. We have to take advantage of this opportunity.”
