Ford driver Nani Roma believes the Dakar Rally has reached a degree of competitiveness corresponding to Components 1, after ending second in a closely-fought 2026 occasion.
With Ford and Dacia each now established in cross-country rallying and Toyota introducing a brand-new Hilux, the extent of competitors in Dakar’s vehicles class rose a number of notches this 12 months.
5 totally different producers scored no less than one stage win, together with Mini and Century, whereas 10 drivers clinched particular person victories throughout the two-week marathon in Saudi Arabia.
The battle for victory remained open deep into the second week, and it was solely after the second marathon stage that Dacia’s Nasser Al-Attiyah emerged because the clear favorite.
The Qatari’s closing profitable margin over Roma was just below 10 minutes, whereas Mattias Ekstrom completed simply quarter-hour off the highest spot regardless of dropping half an hour to navigation points on Stage 9.
Two-time Dakar winner Roma stated that after such an intensive fortnight of rallying in Saudi Arabia, the margins separating the entrance runners have been much like these seen in grand prix racing.
“Typically you get podium finishes in races which are circumstantial. I received right here as a result of the vehicles in entrance began to interrupt down, however we have been all right here, neck-and-neck, only a few minutes aside,” the Spaniard instructed media together with Motorsport.com .
#227 Ford M-Sport Ford: Nani Roma, Alex Haro Bravo
Picture by: A.S.O.
“Should you analyse the variations properly after greater than 5,000 kilometers, I believe you get these sorts of variations in Components 1.
“I am pleased with the extent we have had with [co-driver] Alex [Haro]. In the long run, that is nearly extra essential than the rostrum. The truth that I may be right here, be aggressive, be aggressive once more, really feel aggressive, and be tremendous completely satisfied for the group.”
Roma believes small particulars, quite than outright tempo, determined the battle in Al-Attiyah’s favour.
“In the long run, it’s important to be pleased with what you do, with the fact of it,” he stated. “He was a bit quicker than us at totally different occasions. He did not beat us by being quicker, however due to small particulars that we weren’t expert sufficient to deal with, however the good factor is to compete within the races and face the difficulty head-on.”
Bittersweet Dakar for Sainz
Roma’s team-mate Carlos Sainz Sr ended the Dakar in fifth, round 28 minutes down on winner Al-Attiyah. Navigation issues, together with a 15-minute penalty for lacking a waypoint within the second marathon stage, price him a shot at a fifth profession win in Dakar.
Sainz had been working in second heading into Stage 10 the place he misplaced his manner, underlining how pricey errors have turn out to be in trendy Dakar.
#225 Ford M-Sport Ford: Carlos Sainz, Lucas Cruz
Picture by: Purple Bull Content material Pool
“My evaluation is a bit bittersweet,” he stated. “On the one hand, I am completely satisfied to have completed the Dakar. I believe we saved up tempo, with none main issues with the automotive.
“However simply someday was sufficient to break all our possibilities of victory. We could not do it. That day, we misplaced nearly 45 minutes, all our possibilities of victory. It is powerful, as a result of the remainder of the times went roughly properly. I believe we might have fought for victory. We have been there, nearly main with Nani that day.”
The bikes class noticed an excellent tighter battle, with KTM’s Luciano Benavides capitalising on a late error from Honda rival Ricky Brabec on the ultimate day to grab victory by simply two seconds.
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