FORD
What does it take for a vehicle to win the Dakar Rally, the world’s toughest off-road competition, lasting two weeks and covering more than 5,000 km? Ford has released the first video in a series that shows the development of the Raptor T1 Plus pickup truck, created especially for this adventure, from January 3 to 17, 2025 in Saudi Arabia - watch the video below.
For its first participation in the Dakar Rally, Ford Performance, the brand’s high-performance and competition car division, has joined forces with UK-based tuner M-Sport. The Raptor T1 Plus uses some elements from Ford’s Raptor production vehicles, such as the Bronco Raptor, F-150 Raptor and Ranger Raptor. Powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine based on the Ford Coyote 5.0, it has a T45 steel chassis, carbon fiber body, 37-inch tires and 355 mm ventilated disc brakes with six-piston monobloc calipers.
The video shows everything from the conception of the Ford Raptor T1 Plus to the first tests in Greystoke Forest. But to compete in the Dakar you also need to have the best drivers, mechanics, technicians and support teams. Nani Roma(image below), one of only three drivers in the history of the Dakar to win on both motorcycles and cars, talks about the battle against cancer that kept him away from the tracks and the joy of returning to do what he loves most.
“I thought my professional life was over. But when Ford called me and told me about the possibilities, I'm sure it helped a lot to have this project going. When you're competing, you feel something in your stomach and I like that. Preparing for the Dakar is the same thing, it makes me feel alive. For me, Dakar means freedom. It’s a crazy race that I’ve been lucky enough to win with four different manufacturers and my plan now is to win with Ford,” says the Dakar legend.
Autonews
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário