M-Sport NWM is about to debut at the Dakar Rally with the Ford Ranger T1+ – spearheaded by two-time overall winner Nani Roma with his experience
After Prodrive has caused a sensation at the Dakar Rally in recent years, another traditional British racing team is also devoting itself to the rally-raid scene. Malcom Wilson was able to fulfill a long-cherished wish and realize a project for M-Sport.
For the Dakar Rally, M-Sport is working together with Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM) from South Africa. Ford Performance is also officially supporting the project. Preparations were intensified in the course of 2023.
In January 2024, M-Sport NWM Ford will compete in Saudi Arabia with two Ford Rangers in accordance with T1+ regulations. It represents a learning year, as a brand-new Ford Ranger Raptor T1+ is being developed in the background for the 2025 Dakar.
On the driver’s side, the ambitious project has secured the experience of Nani Roma. The 51-year-old Spaniard is healthy and fit again. In spring 2022, Roma announced that he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer. He therefore missed the 2023 Dakar Rally.
Roma has since recovered and has been able to complete an extensive test program with the Ford Ranger over the past few months. “It was a great process to develop the Ranger,” says the two-time Dakar winner about his new role.
“The mechanics and engineers did a great job to improve the stability and reliability of the car. We have worked in a good direction. The Ranger is a strong car.” How competitive the T1+ will be remains to be seen
As a rally fan, Roma has followed M-Sport’s successes in the WRC for decades. “M-Sport has always been a top team. They are a group of highly professional people who are very good to work with,” praises the 51-year-old.
“The team is very well organized, and although they are in an unfamiliar environment for them, they quickly understood what it takes to take on this challenge. I have always worked to win the races I drive for 30 years.”
Roma first took part in the Baja Aragon with the Ford and finished sixth. In the fall, he competed in the Morocco Rally and finished third. Roma’s co-driver is his long-time companion Alex Haro Bravo. The second Ford Ranger T1 is driven by Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer. Both are South Africans.
Former WRC driver Martin Prokop will also be competing again this time. The Czech has been driving a Ford Raptor for several years, which he built himself with the Orlen-Benzina team. It is practically a private project and has nothing to do with the involvement of M-Sport NWM and Ford.
