Ford Performance scored big wins at the 2024 Baja 1000 with the Bronco DR and Ranger Raptor. The two vehicles conquered the Baja 1000’s arduous terrain and unpredictable challenges to accomplish this feat. For 2024, the Baja 1000 course offered no mercy for racers and included silt beds, jagged rocks, snow, and rain.

The Ford Performance Bronco DR, a purpose-built desert racer, won the Heavy Metal Limited class. Meanwhile, the Ranger Raptor, based on the production truck, won the Stock Mid-Size class.

Brad Lovell, who has piloted the Bronco DR at all races in 2024, spoke about the Bronco’s legacy and the challenging race, saying, “This year put an exclamation mark on how brutal Baja is. It’s said it’s the toughest race in North America, and I do believe that’s true. To understand Bronco’s legacy in Baja and be part of it is overwhelming.”

The Ranger Raptor win highlighted the link between Ford’s racing program and its road-going vehicles. With advanced Fox suspension, a rugged chassis, and a twin-turbo 3.0L EcoBoost engine, the Ranger Raptor proved its real-world capability. Loren Healy, one of the drivers of the Ranger Raptor, described the Baja 1000’s tough conditions, saying, “Baja threw everything it had at us this year. We fought some trials and tribulations last night, but this amazing Ford Performance team put everything – their whole hearts and souls – into this, in the dark, in the cold, in the rain.”

The #773 Ranger Raptor has been modified to comply with the SCORE Stock Mid-Sized Class regulations, yet remains almost fully a production vehicle. The truck is fitted with a MoTeC data acquisition system, which collects important performance information to assist future vehicle development by the engineers.

Brian Novak, North American Off-Road Program Manager, explained the value of this data, saying, “One of our top priorities is always to gather as much data as possible, and we see so much varied conditions here that helps that. We’ve taken insights from this program to enhance our durability testing process. When we take this truck back to Dearborn, we’ll analyze every piece and part in detail to see what we can do to make our consumer trucks better.”

Brad Lovell offered an on-point summation of the Baja 1000. “Baja doesn’t hand out wins. You earn them by enduring the worst it throws at you and pushing through when it seems impossible. That’s what makes this race so special.”