Dakar legend Nani Roma and his ferocious Raptor get hero's welcome at Ford SA plant
Image: Supplied
This past week was a historic one for off-road racing in South Africa, with local and international stars going head-to-head in the country's first-ever Safari Rally.
Staged in the bushveld surrounding Sun City, the 1,222km rally was the first international Rally Raid championship round to be held on local soil.
The rally saw local heroes prevail, with Toyota Gazoo Racing driver Henk Lategan narrowly ousting former World Rally legend Sébastien Loeb, who was in a Dacia Sandrider, for overall victory, while Gareth Woolridge of the local Ford NWM team, took fourth spot.
Rally fans were also treated to their first sighting of the Ford M-Sport team's Raptor T1+, with international drivers Carlos Sainz and Nani Roma, both rally stars in their own right, taking fifth and seventh positions after struggling to come to terms with the local terrain.
To capitalise on the 'gees', Ford South Africa brought Roma and his ferocious Raptor to the Silverton assembly plant on Monday, to give plant workers as well as local media members an inside view of Ford's international racing efforts.
Amid much jubilation, with Ford's employee choir putting on a stellar performance, Roma and Ford's motorsport management members received a warm South African welcome as the former Dakar winner revved his Raptor and recounted his life as a rally driver. This took place during a slightly extended lunch break, which Ford SA CEO Neale Hill said had a minimal impact on output, but brought a big boost in morale.
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Roma received a warm South African welcome.
Image: Supplied
Roma is one of just three competitors to have won the Dakar Rally on two wheels as well as four, winning with KTM in 2004 and Mini in 2014, and he joined the Ford M-Sport outfit in early 2023.
Speaking with local media after the event, the Spanish driver said this was the first time in his career he has felt that the company's board truly loves motorsport.
Roma acknowledged that he was not happy with this year's Safari Rally result, but said the positives outweighed the negatives, as much was learned about the car and the unfamiliar racing terrain.
He said the relatively narrow tracks as well as the tall grass and rocks made it difficult to read the track ahead. 'But it's great discovering new areas, new types of terrains.'
Describing his time in South Africa, he said 'We feel really welcome, everywhere we go. In many countries that's not the case, but here it feels really nice.'
The other star of the show, Nani's Raptor T1+, made its Dakar debut at the beginning of 2025.
The purpose-built Rally Raid machine boasts multi-adjustable suspension by Fox, allowing up to 350mm of wheel travel and a 400mm ground clearance.
The vehicle features a T45 steel spaceframe and carbon fibre body panels, while power comes from a 5.0-litre Coyote V8 with a uniquely tuned (and thunderous sounding) exhaust system.
'Taking on such a demanding race like Dakar is a daunting task for all of us at Ford Performance, but we have never shirked a challenge,' said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance Motorsports.
'The Ford Raptor T1+ is a stake in the ground for our global off-road vision - we want to take on the best and prove ourselves in the toughest places on earth.
'The lessons we are learning from Raptor T1+, along with competing with stock trucks in Baja 1000 and Finke Desert Race, will help make Raptor vehicles even better for our customers.'
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