buRRp
Moderator

Just last month, Ford sent its EcoBoost engine to one of the toughest races on the planet, the Baja 1000. What could be more difficult than an over-1,000 mile race over the harsh, unforgiving deserts of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula? How about a 5,000 mile race across the remote and unforgiving tracts of land that make up Chile and Argentina?
Not just any production vehicle can tackle the immense landscapes and varied elevations of South America, but two SVT F-150 Raptors have taken up the challenge, and are approaching the half-way point of their journey.
Up until three years ago, the Dakar Rally took place mainly in North Africa and portions of southwestern Europe (indeed, the first race of the series went between Paris, Tunis, and Dakar.) However, threats of terrorism forced the Dakar to move to South America, right in the U.S.A.’s backyard. Ford has entered the race intermittently, but it has largely been dominated by foreign brands like Volkswagen and Toyota.
However, this year those Vdubs will have their work cut out for them, as two SVT Raptors are in the rally this year. One is piloted by America’s own Sue Mead and Darren Skilton, the other two Chilean privateers who competed in a Raptor in last year’s Dakar rally. The two Raptor teams will help each other out over the course of this 5,000 miles, 15-day race. It’s a notoriously difficult race, and while its on the bucket list of many gearheads, few people are lucky or bold enough to ever actually enter. We’ll be sure to let you know how the two Raptor’s finish, as we’re expecting big things from Ford’s off-road entry.