Ford, Kellys build off-road race Raptor
An Australian-built Ford Ranger Raptor, complete with Supercars team input, will compete in the famous Baja 1000 off-road race.
Ford Performance has collaborated with former Supercars team Kelly Racing and engine builder Herrod Performance to design the Ranger Raptor.
Australian off-road accessory specialists, ARB, also helped in the build.
The Ranger Raptor was built at Kelly Racing’s Braeside base in Melbourne, home of the two Penrite Racing Mustang Supercars.
The Ranger Raptor was tested in Mildura and and the Johnson Valley in California.
American team Lovell Racing will run the Ranger Raptor in the forthcoming BF Goodrich Score Baja 1000.
The Ranger Raptor will also use Shell’s low carbon biofuel blend, which consists of more than 30 per cent sustainably sourced bio components.
It has been a big month for Ford, which recently revealed its seventh-generation Mustang.
The new Mustang will debut in Supercars next year in line with the new Gen3 ruleset.
The Mustang will compete against the Chevrolet Camaro, with General Motors also expanding its motorsport fleet.
Chevrolet revealed its new drag car in Bathurst, complete in the livery which is being carried by the Gen3 Camaro prototype.
Brian Novak, Off-Road Motorsports Supervisor, Ford Performance, was keen to see the car compete in one of the world's most gruelling off-road races.
"By entering this event, we’re building on the hundreds of thousands of kilometres of development testing and pushing the Ranger Raptor to new extremes,” Novak said.
"The Baja 1000 is a demanding event and a well-known proving ground for off-road vehicles.
"We are excited to compete in this extreme event with Ranger Raptor."
The 2022 Baja 1000 will be held on November 15-20.
The 2022 Repco Supercars Championship will conclude on the Adelaide streets in December.
