For obvious reasons, not many people fantasize about driving a pickup truck round the Nürburgring Nordschleife to enjoy its handling capabilities. It’s just too wrong, in too many ways.
However, Top Gear USA host Tanner Foust isn’t one of those people – and he didn’t just think about it, he actually did it. The stunt and rally driver came up with the idea of driving a performance pickup truck, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, on the world’s most frightening racetrack, the one that drivers affectionately call “The Green Hell.”
While the Ford’s 411HP 6.2-liter V8 engine and its permanent 4-wheel-drive system did a decent job of moving 2.7 tons of metal through the Nürburgring treacherous corners, the off-road suspension was clearly not designed for such conditions.
On the plus side, seeing the Raptor’s enormous suspension travel makes one realize how comfortable Foust must have felt behind the wheel. It also shows that the man can drive. Too bad lap times were not released, although people in Maranello, Modena or Stuttgart should definitely not be worried.
By Dan Mihalascu
VIDEO