Ford is getting ready for the Finke Desert Race with a special Ranger Raptor. It’s a big off-road race in Australia, where the terrain is tough.
This isn’t the first time a Ranger Raptor has raced in the Finke Desert Race. Brad Lovell and his son Byam raced the same truck in 2023. They won in their category but missed out on winning overall. Brad also drove the truck in the 2022 Baja 1000, where it also won.
But Ford has made some changes to the truck. They tweaked the suspension system because the race is faster than the Baja 1000. They added some tough parts like a skid plate and snorkel intake. Inside, they put sport seats and a roll cage.
Most of the truck is still the same as a regular Ranger. The engine, transmission, and suspension are stock. This makes the truck eligible for a certain category in the race. Two other cars, a Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 and a Toyota Land Cruiser, will also race in the same category.
The Finke Desert Race happens on June 9-10. It starts in Alice Springs, goes to Apatula, and then back to Alice Springs. That’s about 285 miles. Last year, the Ranger finished the race in about 5 hours and 56 minutes.
