Bronco Raptor and F-150 Raptor Claim Victory at Baja 1000

It takes uniquely powerful vehicles to tackle the rough terrain, challenging weather, and difficult path of the SCORE Baja 1000 Presented by K&N, and if there’s one family of vehicles that’s certainly up for the task, it’s the Ford Raptor Series. The Bronco Raptor and the F-150 Raptor cleaned up at the 2023 Baja 1000, achieving victories in the mid-size and full-size stock classes.

“Ford is a family company with not only a goal to win, but to also further develop our street Raptors for customers around the world to enjoy,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “The Baja 1000 not only served as a testament to all the hard work from people on the ground and those in Dearborn, Mich., but this event also emphasizes our continued global commitment to the sport and making better products for our customers.”

Taking drivers through the deserts of Mexico, this endurance race was a chance for both the Bronco Raptor and the F-150 Raptor to show off their prowess, especially in the wake of Ford’s 2022 win with the Ranger Raptor.

The course for the Baja 1000 extends for nearly 1,200 miles up the Baja peninsula from La Paz to Ensenada. This is the event’s first time on a course like this, which includes sand along the coastline, difficult silt beds, rocky stretches, and much more. Despite the challenges, the Bronco Raptor crossed the finish line with an unofficial final time of 40:37:47.820, and the F-150 Raptor with 41:44:45.634.

“We are so proud to be able to get these trucks across the finish line,” said Brian Novak, Ford Performance off-road racing supervisor. “Baja is one of the most difficult races in the world, and that is why we use it as a proving ground for our technology. The team is proud to show again this year how capable the Raptors really are.”

“I am very proud to be here in Ensenada,” said Brad Lovell, team principal for the Ford Performance Baja 1000 program. “It’s been a shared goal for over a year between Lovell Racing and Ford Performance to get here. There is so much camaraderie and teamwork – with other teams that have been my competitors, my friends and my teammates to get the vehicles here. It’s certainly not an easy task. The level of preparation, work and planning for unexpected circumstances that goes into a 1,200-mile point-to-point race is daunting. Today, I feel so much relief that the plan worked out, and overall, have pride in the vehicles in that we had the chance to show what the Raptor brand is capable of.”

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