The Ford Ranger Ultimate off-road racer is one mean machine, and Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM) knows how to put a competitive team together. Both of NWM’s Ranger racers shut out the competition by locking in a rare double-podium, raking in some valuable points with the end of the South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) right around the corner.
The Outeniqua 400 – held in September 2025 – took competitors across a range of terrain in South Africa, challenging them with navigating rock-riddled trails, tight passes, and high-speed sections tightly hemmed in on either side. Dust obscured drivers’ vision and rough, jagged rocks made for rugged terrain that posed a danger to both the drivers and the off-road race cars themselves.
That didn’t stop Ford Ranger duo Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer. During the opening stage on Friday, they kept the Ranger reined in but fast enough to deliver a stage-winning time. However, heading into the second day of competition, the duo suffered two tire punctures that scrubbed them of precious time. Undeterred, Woolridge and Dreyer regrouped and rallied back to a second-place overall finish, just 60 seconds off the leaders – Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy driving a Toyota DKR T1+.
“That was one of the most enjoyable events we’ve done in a long time,” Woolridge said after the race. “At times it felt like four completely different races in one, with the terrain changing constantly. The rocky sections made avoiding punctures absolutely crucial but Boyd did a fantastic job on the navigation and we really enjoyed the tighter, more technical terrain. It was tough, but great fun to drive.”
Right behind them, Marcos Baumgart and Kleber Cincea, fellow Ford Ranger Ultimate racers, posted their best result of the 2025 SARRC season. They wrapped up a P3 overall result, running as high as second place for most of the race. They even helped out Woolridge and Dreyer by making way through the dust, maintaining their own running position through the process.
“To have two Ford Rangers on the podium is a fantastic result and a big reward for the whole team,” said NWM team principal Neil Woolridge. “We knew how tough this event would be, so to come away with second and third is hugely satisfying. After the last round we made a number of improvements to the cars, focusing on both reliability and performance, and it was clear this weekend that the work has paid off.”
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