BLOG: RALLY RAID TECHNICIAN
- arudd5
- Apr 17
- 2 min read
Our Rally Raid Technicians are involved in one of our most exciting and exhilarating projects – preparing the Ford Raptor T1+ for the FIA World Rally Raid Championship and legendary Dakar Rally.
Not for the faint-hearted, Rally Raid Technicians are faced with some of the most challenging events in the industry, but they are rewarded with one of the biggest adventures in motorsport.
CALLUM TURNER, RALLY RAID TECHNICIAN
How did you become a rally raid technician? I started my motorsport career in circuit racing before joining M-Sport as a Rally2 technician back in 2023. That provided me with a great deal of knowledge when it comes to off-road motorsport, and made the transition to rally raid much easier.
How did you find your first Dakar Rally? It was a big challenge with very long and demanding days, but it was also a massive adventure getting to travel around an entire country in pursuit of the action. Some days were incredibly long with all-night services followed by long drives the next day. To put it into perspective, the road sections could be anything from 400 to 800 kilometres – and we’re driving them every couple of days as we chase the rally from bivouac to bivouac.
What is your proudest moment as a rally raid technician? Working on Nani Roma’s car and getting Ford’s first-ever Dakar Stage Win was pretty special, but it was also incredible to stand on the podium alongside everyone who worked so hard to secure such a brilliant result on our Dakar debut.
What does your year look like as a rally raid technician? As well as Dakar, we’re also contesting the FIA World Rally Raid Championship which is five events including Dakar, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, South African Safari Rally, Rally Raid Portugal and Rallye du Maroc. The calendar is quite front and rear loaded with two events already completed, but from a test and development perspective that works really well – giving us a big block in the middle of the year followed by a couple of events in the run-up to next year’s Dakar.
What is your go-to tool for quick fixes during events? One of the biggest things we have to contend with at Dakar is bodywork damage, so the rivet gun always comes in handy.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to become a rally raid technician? Be prepared for long days, long nights, and the adventure of a lifetime!
What’s the goal for next year’s Dakar Rally? That’s easy, the goal is to win.
Ever thought about becoming a Rally Raid Technician? Check out the opportunities available at M-Sport on our careers page.
Published 17 April 2025