It was recently announced that the next-generation Ford Ranger Raptor will be entering the Southern California Off Road Enthusiasts International’s (SCORE) famous Baja 1000 off-road race. The said race is scheduled to run from November 15 to 20, 2022. By entering it, Ford will gain better knowledge of the new Ranger Raptor’s capabilities.
The Ford Ranger Raptor prepped for the Baja 1000
To prepare the next-gen Ranger Raptor for the race, Ford Performance is partnering up with Kelly Racing from Australia, and Lovell Racing from the US. Of note, Lovell Racing is helmed by Brad Lovell, an off-road motorsports hall of famer, and a multi-time off-road champion.
The said Ford truck will be entering the SCORE’s stock class. So this means sticking to manufacturer standards when it comes to mechanicals. It will also get several pieces of safety gear as per SCORE’s stock class regulations.
It also gets a snorkel, a skid plate, and additional lighting
Despite the Baja 1000’s stock class restrictions, do note that the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor does have some bits that will help it tackle the challenging terrain of the Baja 1000. Specifically, it gets an Australian-spec 3.0-liter V6 gasoline engine capable of making up to 392 horsepower and 583 Nm of torque. All power is then sent to all four wheels, and the truck likewise uses a set of sport-tuned Fox shock absorbers.
The Baja 1000 as we’ve mentioned above, is a tough race. It is held in the dry desert climes of Baja California. Traditionally, it starts in Tijuana and then ends in La Paz, Mexico. That means around 1,600 km of either gravel, hills, and mostly sand. With the Ranger Raptor’s mechanical specs though, one may say that it was designed from the ground up to deal with whatever this race throws at it.
The Ford Ranger Raptor is entering the Baja 1000 Stock Class
On top of aiming for the win, Ford is also looking to show the world that racing can be done with a lesser carbon footprint than usual. This is thanks to the fact that during the race, the next-gen Ford Ranger Raptor will be using Shell’s ethanol and bionaphtha biofuel blend.
If you want to see how the all-new Ford Ranger Raptor fares in the upcoming Baja 1000 or looking for a Ranger Raptor for sale, stay tuned here on Philkotse for more updates.