Kelly, Walkinshaw expertise key in Ford Finke record

An Aussie-built Ford Performance Ranger Raptor, built by Kelly Racing and with expertise from Walkinshaw Performance, has set a Finke Desert Race record.

Brad and Byam Lovell won the Production 4WD class in Alice Springs on Monday.

It was the same race-prepared Ranger Raptor that won its class at the 2022 Baja 1000.

The vehicle finished the race from Alice Springs to Finke and back in five hours, 56 minutes and 30 seconds.

It comes after Ford Performance revealed the new GT3 Mustang at Le Mans on the weekend.

The time the Raptor set from from Aputula (Finke) to Alice Springs is a Production 4WD class record, completing the 226km course in two hours, 51 minutes and 18 seconds.

The vehicle was built by Kelly Racing last year, with the team competing in Supercars between 2009 and 2021.

Walkinshaw Performance, sister organisation of Supercars powerhouse Walkinshaw Andretti United, lent expertise for this year’s Finke event.

Mark Rushbrook, Ford Performance Motorsports Global Director, hailed the result.

“The Finke Desert Race is Australia’s toughest off-road race, set in what’s almost the spiritual home of the Ranger Raptor,” Rushbrook said.

“The Finke track, and terrain around Alice Springs was a key proving ground for the Ford Performance and Ford Australia engineering teams as we developed the Ranger Raptor.

“This was Ford Performance and Ford Australia working together in a true global effort to showcase the Built Ford Tough nature of the Ranger Raptor.

"Combined with the expertise of the Lovells, Huseman Engineering and Walkinshaw Performance, this incredible team conquered Finke."

Aussie-based Justin Capicchiano, Ford Performance and Special Vehicles Engineering manager, was also proud of the result.

“The Finke Desert Race is one of the toughest events on the off-road calendar, and one that we’ve wanted to take on for a long time,” Capicchiano said.

"To have been able to achieve what we have over the past few days is truly dream come true stuff for me, and for my team.”

“We made it happen with some excellent and committed partners and a small and dedicated team, which grew as the program did.

"Our Ranger Raptor finished as well as it started, and seriously looked like we could drive it back to Melbourne.

"It’s an incredible truck, and we are immensely proud of this outstanding result.”

Toby Price and Jason Duncan won Cars outright, with David Walsh the Bikes champion for a fourth year running.

WAU will be on track at this weekend’s betr Darwin Triple Crown on June 16-18. Tickets are on sale now.