√2023 Ford Ranger Raptor could go off-road racing

Ford has given the strongest pointer yet to a racing program – likely to focus on the Finke and Baja desert rallies – for its new-generation Ranger Raptor super ute.

Ford Australia may be working on a desert racing program for its 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor super ute.

The Ranger Raptor in showrooms now is considered almost race-ready after a torturous off-road development program – and Ford has now given the first solid hint at a motorsport program for the new ute.

The likely target is tipped to be an entry in the Finke Desert Race, a rugged desert event from Alice Springs to the remote town of Finke – and back – each June in the Northern Territory.

The Ranger Raptor could also compete in the Baja 1000 in North America, considered one of the world’s toughest off-road events.

“There is certainly an interest. It’s just a matter of when and where is the right time,” said the global director of Ford Performance Motorsports, Mark Rushbrook.

Mr Rushbrook was commenting during an interview with Australian media to discuss Ford’s plans to take the seventh-generation Mustang racing, including an entry in the Supercars Championship in Australia from next year under new ‘Gen3’ racing regulations.

There have been hints in the past about a motorsport program for the Ranger Raptor, and several Ford insiders have suggested to Drive one may be given the go-ahead for 2023.

While he stopped short of an official confirmation, Mr Rushbrook was clearly hinting at a future racing program for the Ranger Raptor.

“I cannot comment on any Ranger racing plans at this point. We’ll announce that when we’re ready,” he said.

The Ranger Raptor has already run on the rugged roads of the Baja Peninsula in north-western Mexico – where the Baja 1000 is held – a popular test site for Ford’s engineers developing all new Raptor-badged road vehicles.

Engineers also test in tough desert conditions close to Alice Springs, as well as various high-speed off-road racing circuits around Australia.

The motorsport involvement is likely to mirror a similar effort in the US with the Ford Bronco, which in Raptor guise shares much of its mechanical package with the Ranger Raptor.

A race-ready Bronco was unveiled at the end of last year, when Ford confirmed its target for its new competition off-roader was victory in the Baja 1000.

Ford Bronco racers have also finished first, second and third in a race called the King of the Hammers – combining desert racing and rock crawling – in California earlier this year.

“You’ve seen what we’ve done with Bronco over the last several years. There is platform continuity with the Ranger,” said Rushbrook.

The post 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor could go off-road racing appeared first on Drive.