Ford has unveiled the Ford Raptor T1+, a purpose-built race truck designed to conquer the Dakar rally. Partnering with M-Sport LTD, the truck features a double-wishbone suspension with over 13 inches of travel, three-way adjustable Fox coilovers, 37-inch tires, and 14-inch brakes with six-piston calipers. The spaceframe chassis is made of T45 steel, with a carbon fiber body to offset weight, resulting in a curb weight of 4,431 pounds. The Raptor T1+ is powered by a 5.0-liter Coyote-based engine with a dry-sump oil system and a tuned exhaust.
“Taking on such a demanding race like Dakar is a daunting task for all of us at Ford Performance, but we have never shirked a challenge,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports. “To embrace this challenge, we have partnered with the best in the world with M-Sport and Red Bull, and I think it shows how seriously we are taking this project.”
The Raptor T1+ will be driven by four teams at Dakar, including veteran Carlos Sainz Sr. and Nani Roma. Ford will first take the truck to Baja Hungary in August and Rallye du Maroc in Morocco in early October before the 2024 Dakar Rally kicks off on January 4. You can catch a glimpse of the Raptor T1+ at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed.