Ford Enters 2023 Baja 1000 With Bronco Raptor, F-150 Raptor R

November 12, 2023 6:30 pm

Keep an eye out for The Blue Oval in the 2023 Baja 1000, as the automaker will take on the grueling off-road race with two entries, fielding the 2024 Ford Bronco Raptor and 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R.

Both of Ford’s off-road racers will compete in separate classes. The Bronco Raptor will run with the Stock Mid-Size division, while the F-150 Raptor R will race as a Stock Full entry. Both vehicles will run the full 1,200-mile sportsman course through the desert. In order to make the them both competitive in their respective divisions, they’ve been outfitted with special modifications that ensure compliance with the sanctioning body’s guidelines.

The Bronco Raptor boasts modified FOX Live Valve shocks with special internal valves while retaining its stock front and rear coil springs. Under the hood, the race-ready pony is motivated by the twin-turbocharged 3.0L EcoBoost V6 engine, capable of 418 horsepower in this guise and mated to the 10-speed automatic transmission.

The F-150 Raptor R, meanwhile, is tacked up with FOX Dual Live Valve shocks modified with custom internal valves. Its front and rear coil springs are specially designed to tackle the tough Baja course, and it is powered by the supercharged 5.2L Predator V8, tuned to deliver a blistering 700 horsepower, also mated to the 10-speed automatic transmission. The only modification to this setup pertains to the intake system.

Both Raptor racers also feature custom front and rear bumpers as well as required safety equipment, such as a safety cage and fuel cells. Custom high intensity LED lighting light the way during dark runs, while each Raptor rolls on custom Method off-road race wheels.

“There’s tech transfer that’s happening here side by side between the Ford Performance racing and Ford Performance vehicle engineering teams, so lessons learned in the Baja 1000 can be shared to help make better Raptor vehicles in the future,” said Brian Novak, Ford Performance off-road racing supervisor.