Zac Quinn 
Ford Performance plans to make its way to the legendary Baja 1000 race for another year, and this time, it will compete within the 56th year of what is one of the most grueling off-road races on the planet. But they aren’t doing so with just one vehicle this time, but two, as Ford intends to take the Ford Bronco Raptor and F-150 Raptor R to take on the epic race.
This year’s Baja 1000 will start in La Paz, near the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, and run approximately 1,300 miles north to Ensenada, Mexico. This year’s point-to-point race format will be the 25th Peninsula run in race history, with the course being its longest between La Paz and Ensenada. As for the epic Ford Performance vehicles, both will compete in separate stock race classes, with the Bronco Raptor entering Stock Mid-Size and the F-150 Raptor running in Stock Full. Both race-prepped rigs will follow the Baja 1000 sportsman route, set at just under 1,300 miles total driving distance.
Both vehicles feature near-stock setups, with special modifications for racing performance and safety to meet class regulations established by SCORE. The 2024 F-150 Raptor R includes new Fox Dual Live Valve shocks modified with custom internal valving and race-tailored front and rear coil springs designed to tackle Baja Mexico’s challenging terrain. A 5.2-liter powers the Baja 1000 F-150 Raptor R supercharged V8 with more than 700 horsepower and a 10-speed transmission. Except for slight modifications to the intake system, the vehicle should be close to what customers can get their hands on for themselves.
The 2024 Bronco Raptor has also received Fox Live Valve shocks with customer internal valves designed for the Baja 1000 and paired with bone stock front and rear coil springs. The Bronco Raptor features 418 horsepower from its 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine and 10-speed transmission. Both Raptor vehicles also have custom front and rear bumpers plus all required safety equipment, including a safety cage and fuel cells. They also include custom high-intensity LED lighting for night running and custom Method Wheels for both trucks. Otherwise, the vehicles are relatively stock, which should inspire customers.
The Bronco Raptor will be piloted by 2022 SCORE Baja 1000 winners Brad Lovell and Jason Hutter, with veteran off-road racer Bailey Campbell, who recently completed the Rebelle Rally in a Mustang Mach-E Rally. Meanwhile, the F-150 Raptor R will be piloted by Ultra4 Racing Class 4600 National Champion and King of the Hammers Champion Loren Healy, plus three-time King of the Hammers Champion Jason Scherer and John Williams, all of whom will take turns behind the wheel of the epic truck.
