As excitement continues to build over the introduction of the highly anticipated next-generation Ranger Raptor, Ford has announced that the newcomer will be tackling the SCORE International Baja 1000 – one of the toughest off-road races in the world. The Ranger Raptor will be racing on a low-carbon biofuel, demonstrating the potential of these fuels in the most demanding environments.
The Baja-ready Ranger Raptor was built by Ford Performance and Australia’s Kelly Racing and will be raced under the banner of US-based Lovell Racing, led by multiple off-road champion and Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Famer, Brad Lovell. The event kicks off on 18 November.
The Baja 1000, held on the Baja California Peninsula, is considered one of the world’s most prestigious off-road races, attracting competitors from around the globe. In the past, both the F-150 Raptor and Ford Bronco have successfully competed in the event and Ford Performance believes the Ranger Raptor is also up for the challenge. It is built to the rules of SCORE’s stock class, which are meant to show off the capability of the stock street trucks.
Ford is working to achieve carbon neutrality globally across its vehicles, operations, and supply chain no later than 2050 and to reach science-based interim targets by 2035. As such, the Ranger Raptor will use Shell’s one-third blend of biofuel – with its mix of ethanol and bionaphtha.
“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,” explained Cynthia Williams, Global Director of Sustainability, Compliance and Homologation at Ford. Watch the Baja-ready, next-gen Ranger Raptor being built and put through its paces during its shakedown before the event.
