The Ford Raptor T1+ is actually a far cry from its manufacturing pickup truck counterpart and its Ford Ranger T1+ predecessor. Ford Efficiency and M-Sport revealed their latest rally raider on Friday on the Goodwood Competition of Velocity, the place Carlos Sainz finally drove it up the Hillclimb stage.
Sainz and Nani Roma, together with two different drivers who’ve but to be introduced, will pilot the Raptor on the 2025 Dakar Rally. Beforehand, it should make its competitors début with Roma on the Hungarian Baja in August, although it won’t be labeled, adopted by the Rallye du Maroc in October as a closing gown rehearsal for the Dakar.
“That is the form of alternative that comes as soon as in a lifetime,” started M-Sport head Matt Wilson. “To help Ford Efficiency as they head to Dakar with this new Ford Raptor T1+ goes to be an unbelievable journey. Now we have already accomplished ten thousand kilometres of testing in among the harshest circumstances we may discover so we really feel able to tackle this final problem beginning at Baja Hungary subsequent month.”
The automotive measures out at 2.3 metres in width and a couple of,010 kilograms in weight. Most traits adjust to FIA T1+ rules akin to the usage of 37-inch tyres and 350 millimetres of wheel journey, aided by means of 8.5-inch by 17-inch wheels and 355-mm ventilated brake discs from Alcon and 6 piston calipres. The Raptor options double wishbone suspension on either side with coil-over three- and four-way adjustable exterior bypass dampers courtesy of FOX.
The engine is a 5.0-litre V8 that comes from Ford’s Coyote line. It additionally has a dry sump oil system and tuned exhaust.
Some points are impressed by the manufacturing and racing-based Ford Raptor. The latter, a programme led by Brad Lovell, has loved nice success in desert racing with class wins on the newest Baja 1000 and Finke Desert Race. This and the rally raid version have 400 mm in floor clearance, a widened stance, and an method angle of over seventy levels.
“Taking over such a demanding race like Dakar is a frightening process for all of us at Ford Efficiency, however now we have by no means shirked a problem,” commented Ford Efficiency’s racing boss Mark Rushbrook. “To embrace this problem, now we have partnered with one of the best on this planet with M-Sport and Crimson Bull and I feel it reveals how severely we’re taking this undertaking. The Ford Raptor T1+ is a stake within the floor for our world off-road imaginative and prescient. We wish to tackle one of the best and show ourselves within the hardest locations on earth. The teachings we’re studying from Raptor T1+, together with competing with inventory vans in Baja 1000 and Finke Desert Race, will assist make Raptor autos even higher for our prospects.”
M-Sport, Ford’s lead World Rally Championship outfit, launched a rally raid division in 2022 in partnership with Neil Woolridge Motorsport. Roma and Gareth Woolridge raced Rangers for the workforce through the 2023 season, the previous notching a podium at Morocco of their first World Rally-Raid Championship begin, earlier than tackling the Dakar. Each drivers struggled with mechanical points and a crash however in the end reached the end; Roma scored a finest stage end of ninth whereas Woolridge’s was seventh. NWM broke from M-Sport to proceed creating the Ranger in 2024.
Sainz, the defending Dakar winner, joined the Raptor group in Could. Roma took the Raptor to abandon testing in Morocco the next month; as he did in 2023, Africa Eco Race truck winner Tomáš Tomeček supplied logistical help.
The Hungarian Baja, a part of the FIA European Baja Cup, is scheduled for 8–11 August whereas the Rallye du Maroc will conclude the W2RC season on 6–11 October. The 2025 Dakar Rally will happen on 4–17 January.
