As he sits on the start line for the final round of the World Rally-Raid Championship in Morocco next week, new Ford Performance recruit Mattias Ekström will begin the latest chapter in his illustrious career, and one that he hopes will finally deliver a maiden Dakar Rally victory in January.
Seeing Ekström in his new ‘Blue Oval’ colors, albeit with the familiar Red Bull sponsored streaks, will take a while to get used to, not least for the man himself who recently parted ways with Audi after over two decades of collaboration.
But that’s in the past now, and he can look back on a hugely successful period of his life in which he won two DTM touring car titles (in 2004 and 2007) and the 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship crown, with a lot of satisfaction.
Ekström grew accustomed to the taste of champagne with an Audi logo stitched to his overalls
However, looking back isn’t exactly Ekström’s sort of thing. He’s focused on the here and now. And right now, the Dakar preparations are advancing at an accelerated rate of knots.
Speaking to DirtFish, Ekström insists that his new adventure with Ford is potentially the start of something special.
“I think I would have been way sadder if it would have been the end of my career, hanging my helmet up,” he says.
“But the more I realize what the Ford and M-Sport family is about, the more excited I am about the future and the more I don’t feel sad anymore about leaving Audi.
“For sure, there is nothing more exciting than the future and I know it is up to myself as usual to perform and figure out the opportunities that Ford offers me. I just need to work hard and perform, and the opportunities will be there.
“Ford is doing the opposite to what Audi is doing, Audi is shutting everything down except for F1 whereas Ford probably has a more versatile portfolio in motorsport than anyone else, so knowing me you will understand why I am more excited about the future today than I have been for a very, very long time.”
Dakar is Ekström's program, but Ford's diverse motorsport portfolio greatly appeals
Since 2021, rally raid has taken up most of Ekström’s time behind the wheel, and it’s not about to change any time soon. After his initial toe in the water with an X-raid Yamaha T3 Lightweight Prototype, Ekström spent three years helping Audi become the first hybrid drivetrain car to win the Dakar Rally – albeit thanks to Carlos Sainz, who he teams up with once more at Ford.
Ekström is keen to stress that victory for himself on the Dakar remains his ‘number one priority’, but that Ford’s expansive motorsport portfolio leaves the door open for other non-rallying opportunities.
“My focus is on rally raid and winning the Dakar with Ford, that is my number one priority,” says Ekström.
“I wake up with the goal of winning the Dakar and hopefully I have a few more chances to do this, but I am very open about being able to try different categories of motorsport. I wouldn’t be honest if I said that I only care about winning the Dakar. If I win the Dakar, poor Mark Rushbrook will be on the phone with me [and I will be] trying to convince him to let me do other types of motorsports!
Setting up a good team and going for victories is something that M-Sport is used to, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the recipe is successfulMattias Ekström
“The passion [Ford has] for motorsport, I think is really impressive and to be part of the family is really exciting for me.
“Of course, my dream is to go and win the Dakar Rally, but I have to be honest, it’s not the only thing about Ford that I admire; I’ve always been a big NASCAR fan, they do Supercars, rallying, GTs so there is a lot in there that I can be excited about for the future.”
Stock cars, GT racing, more rallying. It’s a tantalizing mixture of opportunity for a driver who, despite turning 46 earlier this year, exudes the sort of youthful endeavor one might attribute more to his younger Ford team-mate Mitch Guthrie Jr.
As the latest addition to the Ford Performance stable, and a last-minute official entry to the Rallye du Maroc after M-Sport team principal Matthew Wilson’s name originally appeared on the start list, Ekström has yet to test the Raptor T1+ and will get his first taste in Morocco this week.
“It’s the start of a new chapter for me so I am super excited,” Ekström adds.
“My first experience with it will be in Morocco, so I’m excited to try the Raptor out and send it. I am not shy of going and giving it a go and hopefully becoming a contender for the Dakar.”
No pressure then, but the bigger picture is trying to deliver M-Sport and Ford Performance victory in the main event if you will, the Dakar Rally which he believes is a realistic possibility given the star-studded staff onboard.
“In general, setting up a good team and going for victories is something that M-Sport is used to, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the recipe of a good driver line-up, a combination of experienced and younger driver, is successful,” explains Ekström.
“It’s up to Ford to decide [what my program will be], for now the Dakar is the number one priority and after that we will see how things go.
“I’ve had good conversations with Malcolm and Matthew Wilson so far to get the Ford deal agreed for the Dakar, but I will leave it to them. They are all smart people, they have won a lot of things so I will let them sort it out; in any case, I am there if they want me.”
