The vehicle’s advanced suspension consists of adjustable Fox shock absorbers to ensure superior handling and durability in extreme conditions.
With an eye on the grueling Dakar Rally, Ford Performance in collaboration with a team with top off-road racing experience designed and built the new Ford Raptor T1+ – the crown jewel of the Raptor family in terms of both aesthetics and capabilities.
In this racing vehicle, all the knowledge gained by the team from its participation in this year’s Dakar Rally was applied. Thus, the new Raptor T1+ has an advanced suspension, a powerful V8 engine and a specially formulated design, so that the new war machine from Ford Performance can successfully face all the challenges in the difficult terrain of the race. Making its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the new Ford Raptor T1+ has been designed in collaboration with long-time Ford Performance partner M-Sport Ltd.
“Participating in such a demanding race as the Dakar is a difficult task for all of us at Ford Performance. But we’ve never turned our backs on a challenge,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “In order to cope with them, we have worked with the best in the world, with M-Sport and Red Bull. And I think that shows how seriously we take this venture. The Ford Raptor T1+ is the first step in our vision of global off-road racing – we want to take on the best and prove our worth in the world’s toughest parts. The lessons we learn from the Raptor T1+, as well as from our participation in both the Baja 1000 and the Finke Desert Race, will help us improve the Raptors that are aimed at our customers.”
The Ford Raptor T1+ will be driven by four crews, including Carlos Sainz Sr. and Nani Roma, who will be joined by Lucas Cruz and Alex Haro respectively. The remaining crews will be announced later this year.
“Opportunities like this come once in a lifetime – supporting Ford Performance on the road to Dakar with the new Ford Raptor T1+ will be an incredible adventure,” said Matt Wilson, M-Sport Director & Dakar Team Manager. “We’ve already completed 10,000km of testing in some of the toughest conditions we could find, so we feel ready for the ultimate challenge starting next month with Baja Hungary.”
Ford Raptor T1+ key features:
• The Ford Raptor T1+ features an advanced independent suspension with double wishbones front and rear. Fox provides adjustable three- and four-way coilover shocks, which allow oil to flow through tubes around the main piston while having a separate reservoir at each wheel to ensure superior handling and durability in extreme conditions
• The Ford Performance racer is equipped with 8.5 x 17” alloy wheels with a total diameter of 37 inches. Brakes consist of Alcon 355mm ventilated discs front and rear and six-piston monobloc calipers. The wheel travel is up to 350mm
• The new Raptor T1+ is powered by Ford’s 5-liter Coyote V8 engine, which delivers the power and torque needed to tackle even the roughest terrain. The engine features a unique dry sump oil system and a specially designed exhaust – all with the challenges of the Dakar Rally in mind
• The vehicle features a T45 steel lattice frame and carbon fiber exterior body panels, combining Ford Raptor’s signature aesthetics with functionality. The ground clearance is 400 mm, while the wide width offers improved stability when driving off-road. At the front, a sculpted grille with the name ‘FORD’ dominates the design, ensuring an impressive appearance. The new Ford Raptor T1+ has a minimum weight of 2,010 kg, a width of 2,300 mm and an approach angle of over 70°.
Match Schedule
• 2024 Baja Hungary (August 8-10): Shortly after leaving this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Raptor T1+ is setting course for its racing debut in Hungary. Known for its twisty courses, Baja Hungary requires competitors to use all their driving skills. Baja Hungary will give the team the opportunity to apply their knowledge with the aim of further optimizing the vehicle.
• 2024 Rallye du Maroc (October 4-11): Two crews will compete in this crucial and final test before the Dakar Rally. The Rallye du Maroc features tracks with varied and challenging terrain that is very similar to that of Saudi Arabia. The race, which will last a week, will be held in Morocco
• 2025 Dakar Rally (January 4-17, 2025): The 2025 Dakar Rally will be the ultimate test for the new Ford Raptor T1+. By highlighting the exceptional abilities of both the crews and the Raptor T1+ itself, the team aims to achieve a landmark victory. All four crews will participate in the 2025 Dakar Rally.
Source: Skai
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