A modified Ford Bronco and F-150 Raptor will take on the Baja 1000

Both will enter stock car classes, but Ford has still applied some healthy modifications to give them a fighting chance

Ford is planning an assault on the 56th edition of the notoriously tough Baja 1000 with two even mightier variants of the Bronco and F-150 Raptor.

The duo will challenge in separate stock car classes, with the Bronco entering the ‘Stock Mid-Size’ class while the F-150 Raptor will take on the ‘Stock Full’ class. Despite the strong regulations to comply with, Ford has applied some interesting changes to both cars.

For the 2024 F-150 Raptor R, Ford has added new dual live valve shocks and reworked race-readied coil springs. It’s powered by the seismic 5.2-litre supercharged V8 that’s also found on the production models, although its 10-speed transmission now has over 700bhp to contend with.

The 2024 Bronco Raptor meanwhile will look to replicate the achievements of its first generation, which won the 1969 Baja 1000. It’s been given single live valve shocks with custom internal valves, while its coil springs have been left moderately untouched in comparison to its teammate. It too has a 10-speed automatic gearbox, albeit paired with a slightly more modest 3.0-litre EcoBoost engine with around 418bhp this time.

A common ground exists between the pair in that they both sport custom bumpers and wheels and have all the necessary safety equipment, including LED lighting that could put the sun to shame.

Brian Novak, Ford Performance off-road racing supervisor, said: “There’s tech transfer that’s happening here side by side between the Ford Performance racing and Ford Performance vehicle engineering teams, so lessons learned in the Baja 1000 can be shared to help make better Raptor vehicles in the future.”

This year, the Baja 1000 will begin in La Paz, California and see its contestants take on a gruelling 1,300-mile adventure north towards Ensenada, Mexico. Get your tacos ready.

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