Ford Ranger Raptor in Baja mode: It’s a global racing debut, but can you guess where? – News | Biden News

Ford Performance is taking its new Ranger Raptor, which includes ‘Baja’ as one of its drive modes, and is putting its money where its mouth is today (November 18) as it lines up to compete in the ratings (SUV enthusiasts in Southern California). ) International Baja 1000 in Mexico.

In its world racing debut, the Raptor will compete in the mid-size category, meaning a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine, 10-speed automatic gearbox and suspension are standard – just like the car you can buy. from the showroom floor.

The racing Raptor was built in Australia by Ford Performance and Kelly Racing, modifying what is allowed by the rules: wheels and tires, underbody, running and hazard lights, crew protection and a 160-litre tray-mounted fuel tank. . It will run on biofuel (30 percent environmentally friendly).

The driver team includes Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Famer Brad Lovell (of Lovell Racing), who admits the American development team “needed some reprogramming” to drive the right-hand drive truck through the speed bumps.

Andy Brown, managing director of ARB, which designs and supplies accessories for the Ranger, is also part of the driver team. Brown is an experienced off-road racer, and his son (and ARB regional export manager) Danny Brown will be the navigator.

The Raptor’s styling is partly a tribute to the late Manny Esquerra, known as the King of the Desert, who took six wins in several Baja classes in a race car based on the American Ford Ranger between 1981 and 1990. He died while racing in 2008.

Ford also won the Baja 1000 in 1992 with the Ford/BF Goodrich Rough Riders factory team.

“The Baja 1000 is known around the world as one of the toughest off-road races on the planet,” said Justin Capiciano, Ford Performance and Special Vehicles development manager.

“Competing in any vehicle, let alone a production car, is a tough race, and the Ranger Raptor we’re competing in is not far from what you can drive off the showroom floor. We want to demonstrate the absolute capabilities of this truck in one of the most grueling off-road races, so our customers can have complete confidence in their Ranger Raptor.”