Australian-made Ranger Raptor to tackle Baja rally

The regular Raptor is an impressively tough truck. But this new machine takes its off-road performance to the next level.

Ford is set to prove the Ranger Raptor’s off-road abilities with an assault on one of the world’s toughest desert rallies.

The Blue Oval has developed a racing version of the Ranger Raptor to take on the American Baja 1000 desert race in November.

Ford Ranger Raptor Baja

Built in Australia with the help of former Supercars team Kelly Racing, the racing machine then went to the US where off-road experts Lovell Racing will enter the ute in its first race.

The tough ute is set to compete in a class for near-stock vehicles close to showroom specifications.

Ford Ranger Raptor Baja

As such, the car’s modifications are mostly safety-related kit such as a roll cage, harnesses, racing seats and fire suppression system.

The car also has racing wheels and tyres, additional spot lamps, a high-mounted snorkel and additional body armour.

Ford Ranger Raptor Baja

Australian companies contributed to the cause, including Ford specialists Herrod Performance, ARB off road accessories, PWR coolers and MoTec engine management systems.

Some of their work might make their way onto road-going Raptors in the future.

The racing Raptor’s engine is closely related to the 292kW and 583Nm engine found in the road-going Ranger.

Ford Ranger Raptor Baja

This makes it a vastly different proposition to the Toyota HiLux that competes in Dakar desert racing – that car competes with mid-mounted V8 and V6 turbo engines that aren’t available in a HiLux road car.

Ford says the race car will run on low-carbon biofuels developed with Shell to help prove that motorsport can be mean and green.

Ford Ranger Raptor Baja