Drama at Dakar as Carlos Sainz Stages Remarkable Roll Over Recovery

COLOGNE, Germany – Ford Performance’s assault on the 2025 Dakar Rally got off to a dramatic start over the weekend as Carlos Sainz was involved in a huge accident on the 48-hour Chrono stage in his Ford Raptor T1+.

The Spaniard flipped his Ford while cresting a sand dune at around 327 kilometres into the stage, but with help from his teammate Mitch Guthrie was able to right the V8-powered vehicle back on its wheels and resume racing.

Unfortunately, the team was ultimately forced to withdraw the vehicle from competition.

“Due to damage to the safety cage of vehicle No. 225 (Carlos Sainz, Lucas Cruz) sustained during the accident in the first part of the 48 Chrono of the 2025 Dakar Rally and in line with FIA regulations, it has been decided to retire the vehicle.”

Check out the video to see what happened.

Considered the pinnacle of off-road racing, Dakar is a two-week marathon through deserts, dunes, rocky plains, and canyons in Saudi Arabia. The race, which is divided into several vehicle classes, traverses thousands of miles, and runs in various-timed stages, including marathons and two-day sprints.

Ford’s Raptor T1+ is competing in the top-tier car category at Dakar. The truck, the result of a collaboration between Ford Performance and M-Sport, features a V8, Coyote-based engine and an advanced suspension with adjustable Fox bypass dampers.

Ford Performance Off-Road Program Manager Michael Norton said the race is, ultimately, about showing the world that Raptor T1+ is the world’s most capable truck.

The Dakar Rally runs through Jan. 17.  You can follow the race on the World Rally Raid Championship’s official website. Also, @FordOnline will be sharing additional coverage throughout the race, including local reporting.