Ford Ranger Raptor, Bronco DR Conquer Baja 1000

The ultimate test of an off-road vehicle is a grueling race down the Baja California peninsula. Hundreds of miles of shifting sands, desert floor, and mountainous terrain challenge even the toughest of vehicles—with no apologies given. The Baja 1000 race can be victorious for the ones that survive the test. This year, Ford Performance took the podium twice with a two-truck victory. The Bronco DR and Ford Ranger Raptor emerged triumphant by conquering one of the toughest races on Earth. 

The Bronco DR took the win in the Heavy Metal Limited class. It was the latest win for one of the most famous nameplates in off-road racing. For the Baja 1000, the Bronco DR was purpose-built for desert racing to fulfill the legacy of past Broncos that won this exhausting race. This marks the Bronco DR’s third win of the year in off-road racing.  

The Ranger Raptor won the Stock Mid-Size class, which allows only a few modifications for the conditions faced on the Baja California peninsula. It proved that it could handle anything in its wake, even with its stock specification. The Ford Ranger Raptor truck is built with advanced FOX suspension, a rugged chassis, and a twin-turbo 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 engine—the same engineering that is available in the global production truck. 

The Ranger Raptor entry was specifically engineered to meet SCORE’s Stock Mid-Size class regulations, tailored for the demanding terrain of the Baja 1000. This factory-built truck was outfitted with key modifications to enhance performance, safety, and durability in the grueling off-road environment. The truck was also equipped with a MoTeC data acquisition system to collect critical performance data during the race. 

Ford Performance assembled a team of drivers, mechanics, engineers, and strategists to ensure that its vehicles could accomplish that which is beyond the limits of the average driver. Only a few people have mastered the art of off-roading to the extreme, as in the Baja 1000. Yet, proving its worth was what Ford Performance set out to do—although conditions were beyond what even the Ford Performance teams expected. This year’s course yielded silt beds, rain, snow, jagged rocks, and absolute darkness at night. Yet, the Bronco DR and Ranger Raptor managed their way through hundreds of miles to grab victories in their respective classes.  

The Ford Bronco and Ranger Raptor are two vehicles worth looking at for both extreme fun and everyday use. When you find a craggy trail in the upcountry, you can see for yourself how both of these vehicles were engineered to handle the rougher stuff. However, they are also civilized. You can bring home some new pieces for the yard in the Ranger Raptor or be the coolest parent taking your kids to school in a Bronco.  

No matter which off-road-ready vehicle you choose, the first step is to contact us at Dick Smith Ford of Columbia. You can start your journey in a new Bronco or Ranger Raptor without having to conquer the extreme conditions down in Mexico.