Ford Ranger Raptor to take on Baja off-road race

A Ford Ranger Raptor has been entered in Mexico's gruelling Baja 1000 off-road endurance race later this month, with the US car giant relying on a team of Australians to build a ute strong enough to reach the finish line.

In October, Mark Rushbrook – global director of Ford Performance Motorsports – did not rule out a potential Baja berth for the Ranger Raptor, saying "there is certainly an interest, it's just a matter of when and where is the right time".

Less than a month later, Ford Australia has confirmed the Ranger Raptor will compete in this year's Baja 1000, with former V8 Supercars team Kelly Racing building the hardcore off-road ute – with input from the US-based Lovell Racing team.

The Baja 1000 is an annual off-road endurance race for cars and motorbikes, held on Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. 

Competitors complete a loop of more than 820 miles (1320km) which starts and finishes in Ensenada, with the fastest classes using purpose-built ‘Trophy Trucks’ to finish the rally in approximately 16 hours.

Ford’s Ranger Raptor Baja challenger has been entered into the Stock Full class, limiting its performance upgrades to two-inch wider wheel arches, three-inch suspension lifts and minimal engine modifications. 

Stock Full teams are required to use their car’s original engine block and heads, although “all internal parts are open”.

The Ford Ranger Raptor will continue to be powered by the road-going dual-cab’s twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, with the Baja competitor running on low-carbon biofuel produced by oil company Shell.

Additional changes to the Baja-ready Ranger Raptor include a tougher steel front bumper with a skid plate, Method off-road racing wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich tyres, a snorkel, and a number of LED light bars.

The Baja-ready Ford Ranger Raptor can hold two spare wheels plus a vehicle jack in its bed compartment, while the cabin has been fitted with a roll cage and racing seats to better protect occupants.

Ford’s Baja racer will be driven by recent US Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee Brad Lovell.

The 2022 Baja 1000 is set to take place between November 15 and 20, with the first competitors departing the start line at 10am Ensenada time on November 17 (4am November 18 AEDT).