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Ford readies a Raptor T1+ for Dakar

An off-road beast, this is

This is not your tito's Ranger Raptor. PHOTO FROM FORD

Ford may have long experience in rally racing, but it has never actually won the Dakar Rally. But that may change soon enough with the introduction of its new Raptor T1+, which debuted at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

A collaboration between Ford Performance and M-Sport, the Raptor T1+  uses a chassis made of T45 steel space frame and carbon-fiber body panels, with the race car bearing just a passing resemblance to a production Ranger Raptor.

In fact, this is a bespoke off-roader that just has a passing resemblance to Ford's production Raptor models. PHOTOS FROM FORD

Under the hood is a 5.0-liter Coyote-based V8 fitted with a dry-sump oil system and a tuned exhaust. It has 400mm of dune-busting ground clearance, a wide stance for improved stability, and a huge “Ford” emblem on the grille just to remind you of what it is.

It has a minimum weight of 2,010kg, a width of 2,300mm, and an approach angle of over 70°.

Enough ground clearance to blast through sand dunes at extreme speeds. PHOTOS FROM FORD

Using front and rear independent double-wishbone suspension, Ford has collaborated with longtime partner Fox for coilovers and three- and four-way adjustable, external bypass dampers with remote reservoirs for each wheel.

The 37-inch tires are mounted to 8.5-by-17-inch aluminum wheels, with stopping power provided by 355mm Alcon ventilated discs and six-piston monoblock calipers.

The 350mm of wheel travel should be enough to tackle the most demanding terrain.

Carlos Sainz Sr. will be vying for another win in the Raptor T1+. PHOTO FROM FORD

Ford is also stacking the decks by having signed Carlos Sainz Sr., who has won the Dakar Rally no fewer than four times. Nani Roma is also piloting a Raptor T1+, and he has won Dakar twice (first on a motorcycle; the second time in a car) and also been runner-up twice as well.

Carlos’s co-driver will be Lucas Cruz, while Nani’s will be Alex Haro. Two additional teams will be announced later in the year.

“Taking on such a demanding race like Dakar is a daunting task for all of us at Ford Performance, but we have never shirked a challenge,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports. “To embrace this challenge, we have partnered with the best in the world, M-Sport and Red Bull, and I think it shows how seriously we are taking this project. The Ford Raptor T1+ is a stake in the ground for our global off-road vision—we want to take on the best and prove ourselves in the toughest places on earth. The lessons we are learning from Raptor T1+, along with competing with stock trucks in Baja 1000 and Finke Desert Race, will help make Raptor vehicles even better for our customers.”

It'll be running in other rally races this year, but the big ticket is the prestigious Dakar Rally. PHOTOS FROM FORD

With over 10,000km of testing completed, the Raptor T1+ will be put to the real test in a number of races beginning in August: Baja Hungary (August 8 to 10), Rallye du Maroc (October 4 to 11), and finally, 2025 Dakar Rally (January 4 to 17, 2025).

With Ford stamping its dominance at the recently held Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with a monster electric F-150 Lightning SuperTruck, we’ll find out soon enough if the Raptor T1+ will have a similar ability to shock and awe on the rally scene.



Andy Leuterio

Andy is both an avid cyclist and a car enthusiast who has finally made the shift to motorcycles. You've probably seen him on his bicycle or motorbike overtaking your crawling car. He is the author of the ‘Quickshift’ column.



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