
Todays Ford Raptor off-road pickup trucks and SUVs are plenty capable, but where do they go from here? Ford aims to make their Raptor brand the ultimate off-road brand in the world. It’s one of the reasons why Ford officially entered the 2025 Dakar rally – the world’s toughest off-road competition in the world. I get all the details as I spend a day with the Ford Performance and the M-Sport teams.
The Ford Raptor T1+ race truck is about the size of a production Ford Bronco Raptor. It’s equipped with 37-inch off-road racing tires and front/rear locking differentials. The 5.0L Coyote V8 engine is mounted midship. It’s behind the front axle line and sits nearly between the pilot and the navigator.


It’s interesting to see two FOX dampers at each corner. There is a coil-over shock and a second bypass damper that is right next to it. FOX shock engineers are working alongside the drivers and Ford/M-Sport engineers and mechanics. The teams continue to learn about damper tuning for a variety of terrain. They fine-tune the tire pressures that work best in various circumstances.
The racing vehicles incorporate the latest advances in shock, brake, and engine cooling. The latest tech in air filtration. The latest material for skid plates and over protection elements. Naturally, there is also a lot of software work that goes on behind the scenes as well.
Please join me in the video below for an adventure in Saudi Arabia and an insider looks of the Ford Performance / Dakar racing team and vehicle.