Sam Krahn 
Even though we don’t get it in America, the Ford Ranger Raptor is one of the best off-road pickups on the market. Its performance upgrades make it a prime candidate for off-road enthusiasts wherever it’s sold. One would think that if Ford wanted to make a racing version of the truck, it would go in some kind of off-road race. But Ford Thailand decided to go in the exact opposite direction, and have turned a Ranger Raptor into a circuit racer, highlighted in a video by CB Media, picked up by Motor 1.
The truck will enter in the Super Pickup category of the Thailand Super Series, and will race against some established competitors in Toyota Hilux and Isuzu V Max mid-size trucks. This is the first ranger to ever enter the series. Luckily, it’s factory supported by Ford, and has some great upgrades to transform it from its off-road focus to a track star. The video captures the team doing some final testing of the truck, giving an up close look before its racing debut.
Under the hood, this Ranger is running a 3.2 liter turbodiesel five cylinder. It’s unclear how much power and torque the motor produces, but the truck’s racing driver says boost has been increased heavily from standard. Based purely on looks, there are definitely some other updates like an intake and exhaust. The transmission is a six speed manual.
Handling is upgraded from a stripped out interior to lower weight, lowered suspension, Ohlins dampers, Willwood Racing brakes and better tires. Still, those 17 inch wheels and tires look a little dinky on the truck, given they are only 245/40 section tires, and they aren’t even slicks. Such are the rules and regulations of the series.
This also shows the surprisingly strong pickup culture in Thailand. A couple of months ago, we covered a Thai shop giving the Ford Ranger Raptor a F-150 Raptor custom front end, boosting the aggression of the pickup significantly. With a strong ownership, aftermarket customization and racing pedigree, Thailand has some true pickup lovers, especially for the Ford Ranger Raptor.
