cars news 10: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor Set for Baja 1000 Endurance Run

Ford Performance will show off its race-prepped F-150 Raptor at this week’s SEMA show before heading down to Mexico later this month to run in the SCORE Baja 1000 endurance event under the stock full class.

As previously reported, Ford teamed up with Foutz Motorsports to modify a pre-production 2017 F-150 Raptor for desert racing. The team didn’t need to do much, since the Raptor is fairly off-road capable right out of the box. In addition to a safety cage and racing seats, the modified Raptor features a fuel cell, LED light bars, and a retuned suspension to accommodate the added weight.

The Raptor’s 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 is unchanged, rated at 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. The race truck’s beadlock wheels and BFGoodrich K02 tires are also production spec.

The team recently ran the truck at a Best in Desert racing event that included a 645-mile run from Las Vegas to Reno, Nevada. Driver Greg Foutz completed the run in 15 hours, which put him in 101th place in the rankings in a field of 231 participants. Foutz has also had plenty of seat time in the first-generation Raptor and says the new one is noticeably improved.

“There are an extra two inches of wheel travel, plus the all-new 10-speed transmission never has to hunt for the right gear,” Foutz said in a statement. “The new Baja mode keeps the turbo spooled up—it’s miles better than the previous off-road mode.”

The Raptor’s Baja mode will be put to the test once again in less than a month once the Baja 1000 race kicks off November 16-20.

Source: Ford