Ford Ranger for Dakar
Aussie-developed Ford Ranger ute to form the basis of two South African entries in the world's toughest rallyTeam Ford Racing has announced it will enter two purpose-built Ford Ranger in the 2014 Dakar rally, scheduled for January 5-18.
Based on the Australian-developed Ranger platform, the trucks are being prepared for the world’s most gruelling rally event in South Africa, with input from Ford’s Global Product Developments and Special Vehicle Team divisions.
Based on the dual-cab Ranger ute, the full composite-bodied cars will run a 5.0-litre V8 putting 260kW/560Nm to ground through a Sadev six-speed sequential transmission.
With a 500-litre fuel tank, it weighs in at 1975kg. The makers claim a top speed of 170km/h with fuel consumption of a massive 90L/100km on sand and 28L/100km on hard roads.
The vehicles are being prepared by South African Neil Woolridge Motorsport, with team logistics to be handled by German outfit South Racing.
The team will run two cars, the first piloted by Argentinian Lucio Alvarez with navigator Ronnie Graue, who’ve driven in Dakars for other teams since 2011. This year they raced a Toyota HiLux to finish 10th overall.
The second Ranger will mark the Dakar debut of well-known South African pair, wheelman Chris Visser and navigator Japie Badenhorst.
“The Dakar is a truly international showcase of off-road machinery,” said Dave Schoch, Ford’s Group Vice-President and Asia Pacific President.
“Last year 745 competitors participated, representing 53 nationalities. We are pleased to have put together a global team that represents exceptional knowledge of the event as well as the Ford Ranger.”
The 2014 event will be the 35th Dakar, the sixth in succession run in South America since political instability in north Africa saw it cancelled in 2008 and subsequently exported.
Comprising 13 stages over 8500km, the event will kick off in Rosario, Argentina on January 5 and finish in Valparaiso, Chile on January 18. The 2014 race will be the first to venture as far afield as Bolivia.
Ford followers will be able to track the team’s progress before and during the 2014 Dakar on Ford South Africa’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts using #FordDakar.
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