Ford Raptor T1+ is Blue Oval’s V8-powered Dakar racer

Ford is ready to kick some sand (and the competition) with a mean-looking race truck built to conquer the world’s most grueling off-road rally.

Unveiled at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed is the new Ford Raptor T1+, a fully bespoke rally raid car built with the help of M-Sport LTD – the rally gurus behind the successful Escort, Focus, Fiesta, and Puma WRCs.

The T45 Steel spaceframe chassis is specifically made to handle the extreme conditions of the Dakar Rally while remaining lightweight with the help of a carbon fiber body, achieving a minimum weight of 2,010 kg with 400 mm of ground clearance.

True to Ford’s signature Raptor aesthetics, the T1+ sports the proud FORD grille in front and has a wide stance for maximum stability off-road. The Blue Oval considers the rally raid truck as the pinnacle of Raptor design and capability.

The suspension features a front and rear independent double wishbone with three-way adjustable and four-way adjustable external bypass dampers courtesy of Fox, keeping the massive 37-inch tires and 17x8.5 aluminum wheels on the ground with up to 350mm of wheel travel.

Meanwhile, underneath the hood of the Raptor T1+ is a 5.0-liter V8 engine based on the Mustang’s Coyote unit. Ford did not reveal the exact power figures but says the engine is fitted with a dry-sump oil system and tuned exhaust to give that rowdy V8 note.

As we’ve reported before, the Ford Raptor T1+ will be driven by “El Matador” himself, Carlos Sainz Sr., and co-driver Lucas Cruz. His teammate Nani Roma has also won the Dakar Rally both in two and four wheels, with additional teams of drivers to be announced at a later date.

After Goodwood, the Raptor T1+ will have its competition debut at the 2024 Baja Hungary, with final competition testing at Rallye du Maroc in October before tackling the 2025 Dakar Rally.