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Honda Ridgeline Demonstrates Resilience At Baja 1000 Despite Challenges
The Honda Off-Road Racing Team competed in the Baja California event, aiming for overall honours after past successes in Class 7. Despite facing numerous challenges, the team managed to secure a 17th place finish among 35 Trophy Trucks. The Baja Ridgeline was notable as the only turbocharged V6 in a field dominated by large V8 engines.
This year's "Loop Race" began and ended in Ensenada, with over a third of the 282 starters unable to complete the 864.13-mile course. Due to missing the previous Baja 400, SCORE required the Ridgeline to start at the back. Driver Ethan Ebert navigated through slower traffic on the initial dusty sections of the 483-mile loop.
Throughout the race, multiple issues caused delays for the team. However, they managed to continue each time, with Ebert eventually finishing with a time of 28:26:31. Jeff Proctor, team owner, remarked on the toughness of Baja races: "I feel like I say this every year – Baja is extremely tough, it’s not for the faint of heart."
Proctor highlighted their perseverance despite setbacks: "We battled out there. We had a great Honda truck at the start, but then we had a throttle position sensor issue. We were able to overcome that, swapping it out in the field." He praised his team's spirit and commitment to finishing despite challenges.
The Honda Ridgeline has an impressive history in off-road racing. Before competing in this year's premier Trophy Truck category, it secured four Class 7 wins in the Baja 1000 and five class victories in the Baja 500. Additionally, it finished second twice and third once in these events.
Racing Legacy
The Honda Off-Road Racing program started in 2015 with a class win at the Baja 1000. Since then, the Ridgeline has achieved 17 class victories across 40 races. This weekend's BFGoodrich SCORE Baja 1000 marked their final race for 2024.
Proctor emphasised their dedication: "We owe it to all of our partners and sponsors to give it our best shot and bring the Honda Baja Ridgeline home to the finish line – and that’s what we did." The team's resilience ensured they completed another challenging race.
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