MOTORSPORT: Ford Ranger Raptor primed for Finke Desert Race

The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor racer is primed to strut its stuff on home soil in the 2023 Tatts Finke Desert Race this weekend, where Ford Performance hopes the off-road racing super-ute can replicate its Baja 1000 success in the Production 4WD class.

We’ve just been up close and personal with the racer in Melbourne ahead of the event, so check out our walkround video of the modified Ranger Raptor here.

Ford has also announced that its Raptor Finke campaign will spawn an online mini-series delving into the vehicle’s development, participation and the teams behind the project, including father-and-son driver team Brad and Byam Lovell.

The Blue Oval has already released a teaser trailer for the ‘Tough as Finke’ series, which will be filmed over the coming days as the Raptor races across the terrain for which it was developed.

Lovell Racing will pilot the same vehicle used in the Baja, which is largely stock when it comes to the key mechanicals but decked out with bolt-on mods like beefier wheels and tyres, extra lights, underbody protection, a roll cage, long-range fuel tank and, of course, myriad navigation, communication and safety equipment as per FIA regulations.

Ford Performance will be backed by Walkinshaw Performance, whose team will be on hand to help with logistics, event management and vehicle servicing and repairs.

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