Ford Performance has successfully been competing in a variety of different high-level motorsport events for decades, from domestic open-wheel series endeavors to drift racing to international endurance competitions. And after recently achieving victory at the grueling Baja 1000 with a heavily modified Ranger Raptor, the Blue Oval’s Performance division has now set its sights on an even more infamous off-road event; the Dakar Rally.
Part of a multi-year plan, Ford has once again linked up with several of its longtime partners in order to custom engineer and develop a heavily-modified Ranger Raptor to take on the 2024 Dakar Rally. Responsible for campaigning the Ford Puma HybridRally1 in the FIA World Rally Championship, M-Sport is one of Ford’s new Dakar program partners. The outfit has previously worked hand-in-hand with the Michigan marque to develop and build a wide range of ultra-high-performance vehicles and powertrains, including the Coyote-based 500-hp 5.4-liter V8 used in the Mustang GT3 program. Also playing a major role in the project is Neil Woolridge Motorsport which has played an instrumental role in the creation and evolution of the Rally-Raid Ranger program, having already built several off-road Ranger Raptor racers for various events.
Competitng in the T1+ class, the Ford Performance x M-Sport x NWM Ranger Raptor Dakar racer is currently going through several development and testing phases, including putting the high-performance off-roader through its paces at Spain’s Baja España Aragón and Morocco’s Rally du Maroc rallies in July and October, respectively, before eventually setting off for Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Dakar. Powered by a modified version of Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, this T1+ class machine sports a full set of custom wide body bodywork that includes a myriad of functional intake scoops, plus a snorkel, a full suite of crash protection, a bed delete, and completely redesigned subframe.Equipped with all-LED lighting, the Raner Raptor Dakar racer also carries a full-sized spare.
Though currently still in development, the Ford Performance Ranger Raptor T1+ Class racer is slated to take on next year’s running of the infamous Dakar Rally in early 2024.
