Ford vehicles have been in all kinds of motorsport over the 116 years since the Model T was introduced. At one time or another, the Ford name has been seen in top-level events like Le Mans, Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship.
Last year, Ford Performance entered the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia for the first time, teaming up with longtime partners M-Sport and Neil Woolridge Motorsport. Understanding that the event is the toughest off-road rally, the team did not expect success on the early outings and made it a ‘finish and learn effort’.
Using experience of 2024 event
For the 2025 event, Ford Performance is developing the new Ford Raptor T1+ which applies learnings from this year’s Dakar Rally. Key features of the new machine include advanced suspension, a powerful V8 with dry-sump lubrication, and a purpose-built design.
The truck rides on 8.5-inch by 17-inch aluminium wheels with 37-inch tyres. Stopping power comes from 355 mm Alcon ventilated discs and six piston monoblock calipers front and rear.
The front and rear independent double-wishbone suspension, developed in partnership with Fox, has coilover 3-way adjustable and 4-way adjustable external by-pass dampers with remote reservoirs outfitting each wheel, ensuring superior handling and durability in extreme conditions. Up to 350 mm of wheel travel is available, essential when racing over the rough desert terrain.
“Taking on such a demanding race like Dakar is a daunting task for all of us at Ford Performance, but we have never shirked a challenge,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance Motorsports.
“To embrace this challenge, we have partnered with the best in the world with M-Sport and Red Bull and I think it shows how seriously we are taking this project. The Ford Raptor T1+ is a stake in the ground for our global off-road vision – we want to take on the best and prove ourselves in the toughest places on earth. The lessons we are learning from Raptor T1+, along with competing with stock trucks in Baja 1000 and Finke Desert Race, will help make Raptor vehicles even better for our customers,” he said.
Testing before the event
After being shown at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this week, the team will compete in the Baja Hungary next month. Then two vehicles will be entered in the Rally du Maroc in October, an event that has terrain which is similar to that in Saudi Arabia.
The 2025 Dakar Rally will be held from January 4 – 17 and Ford Performance will enter 4 trucks.
“We have already completed 10,000 kms of testing in some of the harshest conditions we could find, so we feel ready to take on this ultimate challenge starting at Baja Hungary next month,” said Matt Wilson, M-Sport director and Dakar team manager.
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