- Ford has unveiled the Raptor T1+ rally truck at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
- Co-developed with Red Bull and UK-based rally specialist M-Sport, it features a spaceframe chassis, 37-inch tires and a 5.0-liter Coyote V8.
- The truck makes its competition debut at Baja Hungary in August and will compete in the Dakar Rally in January with rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr. at the wheel.
Ford has stunned crowds at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of speed with the Raptor T1+, a purpose-built race truck conceived to win next year’s Dakar Rally with the help of four-time winner Carlos Sainz Sr.
A joint project between Ford, Red Bull and UK-based rally experts and longtime Ford collaborators M-Sport, the Raptor T1+ doesn’t share much with the Raptor you can buy in US showrooms beyond the name. It’s built around a bespoke steel spaceframe chassis, features double wishbone suspension at both ends and handles bumps via heavy-duty multi-adjustable Fox shocks with remote reservoirs.
Related: Carlos Sainz Wins His Fourth Dakar And Audi’s First
The 8.5 x 17 inch aluminium rims wear 37-inch tires and enjoy a massive 350 mm (13.8 inches) of wheel travel, while 400 mm (15.8 inches) of ground clearance and a 70-degree approach angle means there’s not much in the way of terrain this truck can’t cross. Stopping is handled by 355 mm Alcon discs and six-piston monoblock calipers.
One feature it does have in common with some production Fords is its 5.0-liter Coyote V8, though the Raptor’s is equipped with a dry sump lubrication system and a “tuned exhaust” suitable for Dakar competition. Ford hasn’t revealed what kind of power the motor generates, but as fitted to the Mustang Dark Horse the Coyote puts out 500 hp (507 PS) and 418 lb-ft (567 Nm).
The Raptor T1+ makes its race debut at Baja Hungary next month, before hopping across to North Africa for the Rallye du Maroc in October. Those events will serve as shakedowns for the Raptor’s real goal, victory in the 2025 Dakar Rally in January. Ford’s four teams of drivers will include rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr., who has won Dakar four times already, most recently in 2024 driving Audi’s electric RS Q e-tron E2.
“This is the kind of opportunity that comes once in a lifetime – to support Ford Performance as they head to Dakar with this new Ford Raptor T1+ is going to be an incredible adventure,” said M-Sport director and Dakar team manager Matt Wilson. “We have already completed 10,000 km (6,200 miles) of testing in some of the harshest conditions we could find so we feel ready to take on this ultimate challenge starting at Baja Hungary next month.”
