New Ford Raptor Developed for Dakar Rally

With the demanding off-road Dakar Rally quickly approaching, Ford Performance has been hard at work, bringing in some of the top off-road racing minds to assist in the design and engineering of the latest and greatest in a long line of incredible racing vehicles: the new Ford Raptor T1+. 

Ford Performance and longtime collaborator M-Sport Ltd. worked together to create the Raptor T1+, which is the ultimate expression of both Raptor design and Raptor performance. With its powerful V8 engine, sophisticated suspension, and carefully crafted design, it can handle even the most difficult rally raid terrain. The Goodwood Festival of Speed will be the truck’s premiere event.

“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.”

Four driver-navigator teams will take the Raptor T1+ through its inaugural races: rally drivers Carlos Sainz Sr. and navigator Lucas Cruz, and Nani Roma and navigator Alex Haro will all be included. Later in the year, further details on the other driver teams will be released.

“This is the kind of opportunity that comes once in a lifetime – to support Ford Performance as they head to Dakar with this new Ford Raptor T1+ is going to be an incredible adventure,” said Matt Wilson, M-Sport director and Dakar team manager. “We have already completed 10,000 kilometers (6,213 miles) 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.”

Fans will get their first opportunity to see the Raptor T1+ at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it will make its big debut in the Ballroom Paddock on July 12 at 11 a.m. The truck will participate in 2024 Baja Hungary in August, 2024 Rallye du Maroc in October, and in the 2025 Dakar Rally in January of 2025. For the most recent updates, be sure to follow us at Keller Brothers Ford and keep checking out our blog!