► Ford to take on the Dakar in 2024
► Based on the Ranger for now
► And a specced up Ranger Raptor in 2025
Ford is pushing motorsport in a big way this year. Hot on the heels of a new Mustang GT3 racing program and an F1 partnership of Red Bull comes a new program designed to take on the Dakar rally. ‘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 at Ford Performance Motorsports.
The program is a joint partnership between Ford, longtime partners M-Sport and Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM) and will encompass vehicle development, servicing and event management.
‘The Dakar Rally is truly among the pinnacle of global off-road racing events,’ said Malcolm Wilson, M-Sport’s 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 Ranger in Dakar.’
The timeline
It’ll be a two-phase process: the program will begin with a Ranger T1+ based on the existing pick-up in 2024, and then move to a custom-built Ranger Raptor T1+ in 2025. Think of 2024 is a data collection year in which the team can iron out logistics, and more accurately assess the demands of the dunes. Both will compete in the Dakar’s Rally Raid T1+ category, hence the names.
‘We cannot underestimate the enormity of the challenge ahead of us,’ Rushbrook said. ‘We need to finish and learn first with Ranger T1+ and partners like M-Sport and NWM, who bring their expertise to bear. Together, we can do amazing things in the sand dunes of the Arabian Peninsula.’
Before the Dakar Rally, the Ranger T1+ will be entered into test races which may include Spain’s Baja España Aragón in July and Morocco’s Rally du Maroc in October.
Specs?
There are no specs or details of the T1+ cars just yet, though the Ranger used in 2024 will use a version of the 3.5-litre engine EcoBoost in the current road car. The picture provided does however depict the Ranger with all the equipment you’d expect from a car ready to challenge the Dakar: there’s a significant amount of added cooling vents as well as a snorkel – crucial on the dunes.
Building another icon
Ford’s wants to create global icons and it believes motorsport is one of the quickest ways to do it. Speaking to CAR at the reveal of the very different Mustang GT3, Rushbrook revealed Ford’s long-term plan.
‘As a company, we’re focusing on icons: Mustang, Bronco, F150’ he said. ‘The Mustang is one of our car cornerstones.’
In the same way the Mustang’s entry into the GT3 class will put it in front of a truly global audience, the Ranger will soon become a name associated with one of the most famous rallies in the world. Ford hopes it will put both the Blue Oval and the Ranger at the front of everyone’s mind.