The team Ford Performance has a great role in the Dakar 2025. The appearance of the American brand in this competition is news. The Raptor They attract attention for their appearance, but also for those who accelerate them. Carlos Sainz He arrived hand in hand with the oval brand and monopolized the flashes for being the last winner. His premature accident left him out of the race. Young people compete there too Mattias Ekström y Mitchell Guthrie. And the one who remains from minute zero of this project is the Spanish Joan Nani Romathe experienced driver, winner of the Dakar on motorcycles and in cars.
Various problems with the vehicle, a crash in the desert and the problems inherent to this particular race completely sidelined him, although he continues forward and without fighting for any position, he dedicates himself to accumulating kilometers with the striking prototype.
Aside from his extensive experience in the Dakar, Roma, 52 years old, married to Rosa Romero, Also a pilot and who knew how to run the Dakar, his personal and family problems became public, to the point that it helped many see themselves reflected and can take it as a reference to move forward.
Two years ago Nani suffered a bladder cancer. He took it on with integrity and overcame the problem. “It wasn’t easy, of course not. There are days more difficult than others. But it corners you in such a way that there is no other option to move forward.”highlights the Spanish.
After this complex situation, the family suffered another setback, this time with their son Marcwho at the age of 15 suffered an accident while competing in the European Motocross Championship in Lugo. After a fall and a blow, the teenager was at risk of life. After 10 days of hospitalization, it was found that He suffered an injury to his thoracic vertebrae and paraplegia that prevented him from moving his legs.
He shared both situations from the beginning on his social networks and showed the day-to-day life and the evolution in both cases. “Hating the profession because of what has happened to Marc is cheating, in the end we are all smarter,” said the first Spaniard to win a Dakar, in 2004, on motorcycles in Africa, and in 2014, in cars in America. south.
-What does it mean to be part of this team within Ford?
-I have the opportunity to form such a team, to create a project from scratch. I saw this car when it was on a computer, then I saw it built and now being able to drive it. It is also a pleasure to have shared a team with Carlos (Sainz), who had never done it, and with Mattias (Ekstrom), who is youthful.
-In motorsports it is always said that the first one to beat is your teammate.
-I was always fortunate to have great companions, on motorcycles and in cars. I am of the idea that if you have a good teammate, it makes you better, because of what you say, you always want to beat him. It is very positive to have these colleagues, like Carlos. And we are also at a stage in our lives where we value other things. I have already completed 28 Dakars. We no longer prove anything to anyone. This is a passion for competing, for developing machines and enjoying all this, although the Dakar does not always allow you to enjoy it.
-It is the first time that “Monsieur Dakar”, Stéphane Peterhansel, does not participate in this competition, do you feel like the patriarch of the Dakar?
-No! Stéphane is great, a legend. I learned a lot from him. When I left motorcycles and moved on to cars, I was at Mitsubishi and learned a lot from it. I hope he comes back because we miss him.
-Ford used the torque meter in Morocco, a new device for the Dakar. What did you think so far?
-It is the logical way for all cars to measure the same power. It goes at the output of the gearbox and goes to a control unit. It is a good way for the Dakar to match the category and so far it has worked.
-You are an example because of your illness, and now the situation of your son Marc.
-The years. There are a few years that teach how to overcome these types of situations. I got over mine but that’s personal. You either survive cancer or you don’t. Luckily I stayed and in good condition. Marc’s thing is something he gives to a son. As a father we want to look for solutions, but his problem is difficult to find. Marc is very brave. He knew how to expose himself to leave a good message for those going through something similar. We believe that there is life after a serious accident. He is now working to improve even more.
“Every day I am more proud of you, my superhero”Nani had posted when uploading images of his son Marc, standing again with the help of an exoskeleton, a tool that allows the patient to stand and move, intended for long-term processes so that they do not remain seated all the time.
Nani is on the verge of tears when talking about her little one. Look forward and bet on the future. “In the clinic you see that there are patients in worse conditions than Marc who fell in the bathtub. Life must be lived in the present moment,” he says.
In the farewell, while caressing his machine in the Ford bunker, he stated: “I want those who are saddened by different situations to know that you always have to look for a way out. If I help others with my samples, I will feel the pleasure of having contributed something so that someone feels better, more hopeful and with the strength to move forward.”
A day with many accidents in the Dakar
The sixth stage, the first of the second half of the Dakar 2025 in Saudi Arabia, was marked by a large number of accidents, among which the world champion of the specialty, Ross Branch (Hero), who abandoned his motorcycle and was transported by helicopter, and that of the Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit, who destroyed the Mini
In motorcycles, the victory went to Ricky Brabec (Honda), while the Argentine Luciano Benavides (KTM) was 5th, so he remains in sixth place in the general classification, 30 minutes behind the leader, the Australian Daniel Sanders (KTM). The Neuquén Santiago Rostan It is located in 42nd position.
In cars, the Mendoza Juan Cruz Yacopini He was 16th with the Toyota of the Puma Energy Rally Team, and is seventh overall, 1h14m behind the leader, Henk Lategan (Toyota), which surpasses Al Rahji (Toyota) for 7m16, now Ekström (Ford) por 22m27.
In Challenger (light cars) the Cordoban Nicolás Cavigliasso remains firmly at the forefront of the general classification, beating the Portuguese Goncalo Guerreiro by 35 minutes. On Sunday, the seventh stage will be held, which will be a “roller”, starting and finishing from Al Duwadimi, over a total route of 724 kilometers, of which 460 will be a special test.