Zac Quinn 
The Aussie-built Ford Performance Ranger Raptor that recently took on the Baja 1000 in the United States returned to the land down under to take on the Finke Desert Race. With Brad and Byam Lovell behind the wheel, the legendary midsize truck took a decisive class victory in the Production 4WD class in Alice Springs.
Ford Ranger Raptor Rolls Through Finke Desert Race
Not only did the Ford Ranger Raptor win the race, but it finished the race from Alice Springs to Finke and back in 5 hours and 56 minutes. The time the truck set is a Production 4WD class record. Completing the 226 km (140 miles) course in 2 hours and 51 minutes. That might seem like a short distance, but it’s essential to remember that this is Australia’s toughest off-road race. But, it shouldn’t come as a surprise since the terrain around Alice Springs was where Ford Performance and Ford Australia engineering teams developed the Ranger Raptor.
The victory at Finke is a culmination of nearly three years of work for Justin Capicchiano, Ford Performance, and Special Vehicles Engineering Manager Australia and his team. Vehicle servicing, event management, and logistical support for the event were provided to Ford Performance by Walkinshaw Performance, the sister organization of the leading Ford Supercars team Walkinshaw Andretti United.
The modifications to the Ford Ranger Raptor for the Baja 1000 remained for the Finke Desert race. That meant the truck was mostly stock, minus the addition of crew safety items, upgrades to the wheels/tires, extra lights, underbody/vehicle protection, and a 160-liter fuel cell fitted into the truck for obvious reasons. It’s exciting to see the truck finish first in the Finke Desert Race and the Baja 1000, though it was the only truck in its segment for the American race. That said, it still works as a testament to the outstanding capability and engineering that went into developing it.
