Ford Bronco Raptor & F-150 Raptor R Awarded Top of Class in Baja 1000
In the final northern stretch of the 56th SCORE Baja 1000 Presented by K&N, persistent rain swept across the rock-strewn desert plain. Despite numerous succumbing to the challenging course conditions, the distinctive headlights of the Bronco Raptor and F-150 Raptor emerged triumphantly, securing Ford victories in both the mid-size and full-size stock classes.
Ford is a family company with not only a goal to win, but to also further develop our street Raptors for customers around the world to enjoy, the Baja 1000 not only served as a testament to all the hard work from people on the ground and those in Dearborn, Mich., but this event also emphasizes our continued global commitment to the sport and making better products for our customers.
Ford Performance took on the renowned endurance desert race with both the Bronco Raptor and F-150 Raptor, solidifying its expanding influence and triumphs in the SCORE stock classes. This not only marked the introduction of a two-truck program for the organization’s 50-year anniversary but also saw them uphold the championship in the mid-size class following their 2022 victory with the Ranger Raptor. A significant milestone was achieved in this edition, covering an unprecedented near 1,200-mile journey up the Baja Mexico peninsula from La Paz to Ensenada.
Navigating diverse terrains, from the sandy Pacific coastline to dense silt beds and challenging rock segments, the Bronco Raptor and F-150 Raptor R persevered, equipped with FOX shock technology. Traction was secured with BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2 tires mounted on Method Race Wheels.
Ascending the Gulf of California, the Bronco Raptor surged through open washes, powered by its 418 horsepower 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine. Simultaneously, the Raptor R demonstrated its prowess with a 5.2-liter supercharged V8, boasting over 700 horsepower.
Conclusively, the two Ford Performance race trucks navigated the final corner into Ensenada and triumphantly ascended the spectator ramp. The Bronco Raptor completed the race with an unofficial time of 40:37:47.820, closely followed by the F-150 Raptor R at 41:44:45.634.
We are so proud to be able to get these trucks across the finish line, Baja is one of the most difficult races in the world, and that is why we use it as a proving ground for our technology. The team is proud to show again this year how capable the Raptors really are.
I am very proud to be here in Ensenada, it’s been a shared goal for over a year between Lovell Racing and Ford Performance to get here. There is so much camaraderie and teamwork – with other teams that have been my competitors, my friends and my teammates to get the vehicles here. It’s certainly not an easy task. The level of preparation, work and planning for unexpected circumstances that goes into a 1,200-mile point-to-point race is daunting. Today, I feel so much relief that the plan worked out, and overall, have pride in the vehicles in that we had the chance to show what the Raptor brand is capable of.
Winning the Baja 1000 in the Raptor R will go down as one of my favorite victories in my racing career, the amount of work that went into the race efforts for both the truck and the Bronco Raptor are absolutely mind blowing. Somewhere around 100 people came together as a family and made magic, getting both these stock production vehicles to win their classes in the second longest Baja 1000 ever. It truly is an honor to be a small part of this epic, history-making team.
