The Ford Ranger Raptor is one very capable offroad warrior, but what if you wanted to push the limits? Let’s go racing!

The new Ford Ranger Raptor is set to be one of 2023’s hottest additions to the bakkie segment when it launches locally. Sadly, it was meant to be in SA by the end of 2022, but there are major hiccups to the global supply chain network preventing cargo getting around the world timeously. Simply, there are not enough car-carrying vessels to bring both the Raptor and Everest to South Africa from Thailand, where both are being assembled.

The standard Ranger, however, will be built locally at Ford SA’s facility in Silverton and should be on course for a December 2022 showroom introduction.

So, what do we have here then? This is Ford Performance’s project and is essentially a stripped-out Ranger Raptor that will be taking part in some offroad racing. If you want to push the limits in terms of mechanical ability, endurance and reliability, motor racing is a great place to start.

This specific Raptor will be taking part in the Baja 1000 and has already been undergoing extensive testing in Australia, before making its way Stateside.

Now this is where it gets interesting. Not many technical details have been confirmed, but it will be running on a special fuel from Shell comprising one-third blend of biofuel.“Demonstrating low-carbon fuels in performance settings like the Baja 1000 can help bring biofuels and other clean energy technologies to scale more quickly, and help to make them more available and affordable for everyone,” global director of Sustainability, Compliance and Homologation at Ford, Cynthia Williams said.

To go from standard Raptor to racing Raptor, there have been extensive modifications. Most of the comfort features have been removed and in their place comes a large snorkel, fitment of an armoured skid plate, bull bar, huge LED lightbar as well as some offroad racing-grade tyres and wheels. The loadbay has been adjusted to hold spare wheels as well as tools for those repairs on the go. On the side, you’ll notice ARB branding. This company has partnered with Ford to develop offroad 4×4 accessories for the brand-new Ranger.

This is not Ford’s first rodeo when it comes to the Baja 1000, with both the F-150 Raptor and Bronco having entered over the past few years.“By entering this event, we’re building on the hundreds of thousands of kilometers of development testing and pushing the Ranger Raptor to new extremes,” off-road motorsports supervisor of Ford Performance Brian Novak added. “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 withRanger Raptor.”

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