Exclusive: Ford Might Sell A Factory Raptor Racing Truck
Ford sent four Raptors to the 2025 Baja 1000 this year to celebrate the performance trim’s 15th anniversary, and they took two class wins pretty much racing against themselves.
All three production models were represented with a Ranger Raptor, Bronco Raptor and two F-150 Raptors starting the race in the Stock Mid-Size and Stock Full-Size classes.
A team from RTR Vehicles won the Stock Mid-Size class in a Bronco Raptor, while an EcoBoost turbocharged 3.5-liter V6-powered F-150 Raptor took Stock Full-Size class honors ahead of a Lexus LX600.
The production trucks now all fall under the auspices of Ford Racing, which has replaced the automaker’s Ford Performance division.
Read Also: GUESS WHAT? THE FORD F-150 RAPTOR ALSO SET A NÜRBURGRING RECORD
Ford Racing also oversees the Mustang, including the factory competition Mustang Dark Horse R and Mustang GT3, and runs the Mustang Cup and Mustang Challenge spec racing series, which have all been very successful endeavors.
Ford Racing Global Director Mark Rushbrook recently joined American Cars And Racing’s The GAS podcast and was asked if Ford might launch a similar project for the Raptor.
“We have certainly thought about it,” he said. “As you look in the off road racing space, absolutely there are customers there racing.”
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Ford and its partner Multimatic, which builds its GT racing cars and the production Mustang GTD, did launch the limited edition Bronco DR in 2023, which was a pure racing truck powered by a 400 hp 5.0-liter V8, but it listed for $295,000 and only 50 were offered to customers. Many of them still trade on the collector car auction circuit in brand new condition for higher prices than that.
“We’ve got to find what is the right product to bring there that customers will want to race and will keep racing and it could be a customer truck, maybe not a spec series,” Rushbrook said.
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You can hear more from our exclusive interview with Mark Rushbrook, including an update on Ford’s return to Formula 1 with Red Bull and the secret Ford Racing production vehicle that will be unveiled on Jan. 15 in Detroit, on The GAS.
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