Ford Performance has announced an “extreme” racing version of the Ranger will compete in the legendary Dakar Rally from 2024.
“We cannot underestimate the enormity of the challenge ahead of us”
“To lead the charge at one of the ultimate global off-road events – the Dakar Rally – has been a goal of ours,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance Motorsports. “We cannot underestimate the enormity of the challenge ahead of us. We need to finish and learn first with Ranger T1+ and partners like M-Sport and NWM [Neil Woolridge Motorsport], who bring their expertise to bear. Together, we can do amazing things in the sand dunes of the Arabian Peninsula.”
Leading the Blue Oval brand’s charge in the upcoming (2024) Dakar Rally, which takes place from January 5 to 19 in Saudi Arabia, is a “purpose-built”, “high-performance” Ranger, which is set to race in the Rally Raid T1+ category.
Based on the previous-generation Ranger, the Ranger T1+ boasts a 3.5-litre EcoBoost engine. The joint team of Ford Performance, M-Sport and NWM has implemented a series of development phases through 2023, while continuing testing the rally-bred bakkie. Test races are expected to include Spain’s Baja España Aragón and Morocco’s Rally du Maroc rallies in July and October, respectively, before tackling the Dakar Rally next year.
“Our first time in Dakar will be a learning adventure that will help inform how we compete in the future,” said Rushbrook. “But as with all racing, we’re not just racing to win, we’re also racing to help build better products for our customers.”
“For the 2025 Dakar Rally, Ford is developing a custom-built Ranger Raptor”
Compete in the future? Indeed, Ford isn’t planning on stopping after next year’s Dakar Rally. For the 2025 Dakar Rally, Ford Performance and M-Sport are developing an all-new, custom-built Ranger Raptor, whill will be designed to Dakar’s T1+ class regulations.
“The Dakar Rally is truly among the pinnacle of global off-road racing events,” said Malcolm Wilson, M-Sport managing director. “We’ve achieved great success over the years with Ford in FIA WRC rally racing and can’t wait to apply this same level of focus, energy and effort to competing with [the] Ranger in Dakar.”
