Nani Roma: "By far, it is the toughest Dakar ever held in Arabia."
Arabia Saudita | 13-01-2024
The M-Sport Ford driver emphasizes the robustness showcased by the Ranger T1+
The M-Sport Ford team is working throughout today thoroughly reviewing the two Ford Ranger T1+ vehicles that are tackling the Dakar 2024, a race that began on the 5th and will conclude on Friday the 19th. Nani Roma and Alex Haro completed the first week of the race yesterday, achieving their best stage result of the entire rally, the 11th position. This accomplishment came in the challenging 48-hour stage that traversed the immense desert known as the "Empty Quarter," located southeast of the Arabian country. In this stage, the dunes and sand were the only major obstacles to overcome over nearly 600 km.
Without major issues, Roma-Haro had to contend with various punctures, a challenge experienced by almost all teams throughout the rally. They increased their pace as the race became tougher. Currently, they are ranked 12th, less than 9 minutes away from the top ten, a target that should now be the focus for the M-Sport Ford leaders.
Nani Roma reflects on the 48-hour stage, feared by all and as tough as expected. Many teams lost all hope, but not Nani Roma and Alex Haro. M-Sport Ford delivered the best partial performance of the entire race: "It has been very difficult; the concern we all had about the Empty Quarter was well-founded. Clearly, the toughest days we have ever had in Arabia. All sand, 8 hours of driving always with very high concentration on dunes that varied between soft and more consistent, testing our ability to advance without getting stuck."
Nani also assesses their overall performance: "It has been a tough, very complicated first week; we expected it to be, but these last two days, honestly, we didn't think it would be this challenging. In any case, amidst this toughness, our results have been good. I am happy because the Ranger has performed well. We have had some small issues, but everything is solved. Having some problems is something nobody escapes; the important thing is not to stop on the track, not make mistakes and keep moving forward, always moving forward."
"Both Alex and I have performed at the expected level. I am pleased with our team's performance. The various punctures we have suffered have disrupted our rhythm, but that's something you count on; everyone has a flat tire at some point. The assessment I make is positive; we are strong, our car shows the resilience we already knew, and now we have to go through another six days without problems or mistakes. We want to reach the finish line, and the experience we gain from it is crucial for the future."
For Nani, "this rest day in Riyadh is vital for everyone; it was good to stop for a bit, rest, plan, and prepare. The M-Sport team will review our Ranger and our teammate's throughout the day so that on Sunday, we can resume the journey in a second week that will not be any easier. Everything will be checked and a lot of things will be changed: differentials, gearbox, ball joints, transmissions, brakes, suspension... it will be a thorough service. It has been a very fast and tough Dakar for the mechanics."
This Sunday, the Riyadh–Al Duwadimi stage, with 483 km of special, is announced on tracks in inhospitable places with constant changes of direction, ending in a chain of dunes that can test even the most experienced. In the following days, tracks will predominate over a vast and rocky desert, leading riders north with occasionally challenging navigation and rocky plateaus where a puncture can occur when least expected.
