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Ford Performance Celebrates Dual Class Victories At The 2024 Baja 1000 With Bronco DR And Ranger Raptor
In Baja California's challenging desert, Ford Performance celebrated a remarkable achievement at the 2024 Baja 1000. The Bronco DR and Ford Ranger Raptor secured victories in their respective classes after enduring the harsh terrain. This race is known as one of the toughest globally, testing both vehicles and drivers to their limits.
The Bronco DR, designed specifically for desert racing, added another win to its Baja legacy in the Heavy Metal Limited class. This marks its third victory this year, having won every race it entered in 2024. Brad Lovell and Roger Lovell led initially, followed by Jason Hutter and Paul Blangsted, who contributed to an earlier win at Vegas to Reno. Jason Scherer and Jason Berger completed the final leg of the 864-mile race.
Brad Lovell expressed his admiration for the race's difficulty: "This year put an exclamation mark on how brutal Baja is," he said. "It’s said it’s the toughest race in North America, and I do believe that’s true." He emphasised the significance of being part of Bronco's storied history in Baja.
The Ford Ranger Raptor demonstrated that racing success can coexist with real-world capability. Built with advanced FOX suspension and a twin-turbo 3.0L EcoBoost engine, it mirrors the engineering found in production models worldwide. Loren Healy remarked on the challenges faced: "Baja threw everything it had at us this year," he said, praising his team's dedication under tough conditions.
Loren Healy and Eric Davis began the Ranger Raptor's journey, passing it to John Williams III and Nate Williams for the second segment. Bailey Campbell and Bryan Crofts drove it across the finish line after covering 736 miles of rugged terrain.
Baja's Unforgiving Terrain
This year's Baja 1000 course was relentless, featuring silt beds, rain, snow, jagged rocks, and darkness that tested every competitor. The #773 Ranger Raptor was engineered to meet SCORE’s Stock Mid-Sized Class regulations with modifications enhancing performance and safety. It also featured a MoTeC data acquisition system for collecting critical performance data during the race.
Brian Novak highlighted data collection as a priority: "One of our top priorities is always to gather as much data as possible," he stated. Insights from this program will enhance durability testing processes back in Dearborn.
Ford Motor Company's Commitment
Ford Motor Company aims to build a better world through its Ford+ plan for growth and value creation. The company focuses on developing innovative vehicles across three segments: Ford Blue for gas-powered vehicles; Ford Model e for electric vehicles; and Ford Pro for commercial customers. Employing about 174,000 people globally, Ford remains committed to enriching customer experiences.
The Baja 1000 is not just a race but a battle against nature itself. As Brad Lovell noted: "Baja doesn’t hand out wins," he said. "You earn them by enduring the worst it throws at you." This spirit embodies what makes this competition so special.
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