Mitch Guthrie Joins Ford Performance for 2025 Dakar Rally

Ford Performance has added ace American off-road racing driver Mitch Guthrie Jr. to the team for the 2025 Dakar Rally. He will be piloting the Ford Raptor T1+ with co-driver Kellon Walch at one of the grueling desert races in January. 

“We’re excited to welcome Mitch Guthrie to the Ford Performance family,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance. “The difficult terrain and conditions in off-road racing demand everything from a driver and Mitch’s achievements speak for themselves. He will be a great addition to the team, and we can’t wait to see him push the limits of the Ford Raptor T1+ as we take on one of the most grueling races on the planet in Dakar.”   

Guthrie, whose resume includes stage wins at Dakar, is a King of Hammers champion and Baja 1000 class winner. He has also dominated short-course off-road racing and desert racing events. 

“Ford is such a well-known brand and synonymous with the United States, so that was of course a dream of mine to be part of the brand,” said Guthrie, an owner of a production F-150 Raptor he calls his dream car. “To now be in the T1+ category, driving for Ford ... it’s all coming full circle and is really a dream come true for me. I’m really excited to be part of the Ford family.”

Carlos Sainz and Nani Roma were previously announced as the first two drivers for Ford’s entries in the race. The fourth and final driver for Dakar will be announced soon.

From desert to road

While Guthrie will be driving an off-road performance pickup in the desert, off-road racing and other variations of motorsports ultimately lead to better production vehicles for our customers on the road. Racing in these extreme conditions offers a test bed that allows our engineers to push the boundaries of innovation and durability. The lessons learned in these demanding environments, including the most grueling desert conditions, improve the production vehicles our customers rely on every day.