The all-new Ford Raptor T1+ debuted last July as a purpose-built off-road racer from Ford Performance. It’s enjoyed plenty of success since last year, compliments of its stellar lineup of experienced off-road drivers. Now, for the first time, the Raptor T1+ will race as a part of a privately owned, non-factory backed team, and former M-Sport Ford driver Martin Prokop will be the man behind the wheel as the race truck’s first “privateer.”
Czech driver Prokop has been a part of The Blue Oval family for quite some time. He’s been a Ford brand ambassador since 2010, and most recently, he competed in the FIA W2RC Championship, driving for M-Sport. Prokop will race alongside codriver Viktor Chytka.
As soon as the Ford Raptor T1+ is delivered to Prokop and Chytka, the pair and their team will get to work preparing the off-road machine for its first race. Their first outing in the Raptor T1+ will be the Rallye du Maroc, which is scheduled for October 2025. Once that race is in the books, Prokop and Chytka will will turn their attention to competition in the 2026 FIA W2RC championship. They’re also slated to take on the Dakar Rally in both 2026 and 2027, where they’ll join the other four factory-backed Ford Performance Raptor T1+.
“I have been a long-time supporter and admirer of all that Ford Performance is doing around the world,” Prokop said in a press release. “I’ve been partnering with the national sales company in Czechia for the last 15 years, and this opportunity is beyond my wildest dreams.”
Ford Performance head Mark Rushbrook weighed in, saying, “We race at Ford with a clear set of objectives, and one of those is to build a thriving and sustainable business at Ford Performance. Having Martin as our first privateer for the Ford Raptor T1+ not only shows how we are expanding this business opportunity, but brings the added advantage of a serious and talented competitor. I can’t wait to see what Martin and Viktor can do over the coming years.”
As a reminder, the Ford Raptor T1+ was essentially built with the automaker’s bulletproof 5.0L Coyote V8 in mind. It’s already proven it can perform in Dakar, finishing third in the 2025 running of the iconic off-road race.
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