Ford Performance takes its race-prepared Ranger Raptor into Australia’s Tatts Finke Desert Race a few months after the 2022 SCORE-International Baja 1000.

 

Baja 1000 started a global push for Ford, with the same Ranger Raptor now set to compete in the Production 4WD class at Finke. It was built by Kelly Racing in Australia. Final testing modification was completed by Ford Performance and Lovell Racing.

 

You might think the ute bears little resemblance to the road-going production vehicle, but you’d be wrong. Modifications relate primarily to vehicle and crew safety items, wheels/tyres, extra lights, underbody/vehicle protection and a 160-litre fuel cell fitted into the truck bed.

 

“Bringing the Ranger Raptor to the Finke Desert Race is the next stage of Ford Performance’s strategic global racing plan,” explained Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “Ranger is our flagship platform for global off-road racing, and after conquering the Baja 1000 in the Stock Mid-Size class, we decided the next stop should be back to Australia, where the production truck was developed, to tackle the toughest off-road race down under.”

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ABOVE: Ranger Raptor in 2022 SCORE-International Baja 1000

“We know this truck has all the requirements to be successful at this event, but we’re not going to be resting on our laurels. This will be a full Ford Performance effort to ensure we are putting our best foot forward for this event,” said Rushbrook.

Drivers will be father and son team Brad and Byam Lovell. Brad Lovell is an Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Famer, and runs Lovell Racing. The Lovells ran the Baja 1000 team so this will just another day at the office for them.

“The Finke Desert Race is one of the toughest events on the off-road calendar, and one that we’ve wanted to take on for a long time,” said Brad Lovell. “The Ranger Raptor is an incredible machine, and we’re confident that it will perform exceptionally well in the race. We’re looking forward to pushing ourselves and the vehicle to the limit.”

Beyond Lovell Racing’s competitive activities in SCORE and Ultra4, Brad participates in a myriad of development duties for Ford, from conducting advanced off-road training to helping develop the Bronco, Bronco 4600 and Bronco DR. Additionally, Lovell Racing fits into the Ford family seamlessly, given that Brad’s primary co-drivers shift between his brother Roger and two sons, Adam and Byam.

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