They say the Dakar isn't over until you punch your card at the final control. After 29 editions, you think you know every limit, but this year, the final kilometers before reaching Yanbu reminded me that Ford’s true strength isn't just in the Raptor’s engine — it’s in the people standing behind it.

Today, I hold this runner-up trophy with a special kind of pride. But if I close my eyes, I don’t think about the speed or the dunes; I think about the sound of tools working against the clock under a blistering sun.

Everything changed in a heartbeat. During Stage 11, just as we were within reach of the finish line, a violent impact against a mound shattered our front right transmission. We crossed the line on three wheels, the axle dragging and our hearts in our throats. In that moment, with the car mortally wounded, the podium felt like a fading mirage. But then, the real race began.

What followed wasn’t just a repair; it was a technical feat worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster. Seeing Romain Dumas stop his own “2025” Raptor to turn it into a "parts donor" was the first act of incredible selflessness. In a matter of minutes, a makeshift workshop was assembled in the middle of nowhere.

“In that moment, with the car mortally wounded, the podium felt like a fading mirage. But then, the real race began.”

Nani Roma

Mitch Guthrie, Romain, the co-drivers, and our mechanics dove onto the car for an "open-heart transplant." They replaced the driveshaft and part of the suspension in barely an hour — a job that would normally take an entire morning in a standard workshop. Seeing my teammates with grease-stained hands, giving everything so that Alex Haro and I could continue, is one of the most powerful images of my career. It was a masterclass in engineering and courage that gave us a narrow 90-minute window to cover the 183 kilometers that separated us from glory.

We set off at full throttle, squeezing every bit of power from the Raptor. But the desert had one last scare for us: We ran out of fuel just 9 kilometers from our destination. It was then that Laia Sanz, in a gesture of sportsmanship I will never forget, hooked us up and towed us to the entrance of the control. We punched our card with only 60 seconds to spare. One single minute that was worth a podium.

When I finally stopped the engine and saw the whole team, I couldn't hold back the tears. We hugged with the intensity of survivors. I cried out of relief, but above all, out of gratitude.

This second-place finish is the sixth podium of my life, but it is undoubtedly the most hard-earned. We have proven that the Ford Raptor T1+ is an incredible machine, but more importantly, that the team at Ford M-Sport is unbeatable. Having Mattias Ekström on the third step and Carlos Sainz demonstrating his mastery confirms that we are a true family.

I congratulate Nasser on his victory, but let him know that in 2027, we will be back. We have learned, we have suffered, and above all, we have shown what it means to be "Ford Tough." This podium belongs to those who lost the skin on their hands changing that suspension in the desert. Thank you for not leaving me alone.

Nani Roma is a driver for Ford Racing.