FORD has celebrated a successful Australian debut of the Ranger Raptor built Down Under by Kelly Racing.
Backing up its effort in the Baja 1000 last year, the Ford Performance/Lovell Racing entry yesterday secured victory in the Production 4WD class of the Finke Desert Race.
Supported by Walkinshaw Performance, Brad and Byam Lovell’s return trip from Aputula to Alice Springs was completed in two hours, 51 minutes and 18 seconds – reported to be a record in class.
Ford Performance Motorsports global director Mark Rushbrook hailed the outcome.
“The Finke Desert Race is Australia’s toughest off-road race, set in what’s almost the spiritual home of the Ranger Raptor,” he said.
“The Finke track, and terrain around Alice Springs was a key proving ground for the Ford Performance and Ford Australia engineering teams as we developed the Ranger Raptor.
“This was Ford Performance and Ford Australia working together in a true global effort to showcase the Built Ford Tough nature of the Ranger Raptor.
“Combined with the expertise of the Lovells, Huseman Engineering and Walkinshaw Performance, this incredible team conquered Finke.”
Australian-based Ford Performance and Special Vehicles Engineering manager Justin Capicchiano said: “The Finke Desert Race is one of the toughest events on the off-road calendar, and one that we’ve wanted to take on for a long time.
“To have been able to achieve what we have over the past few days is truly dream come true stuff for me, and for my team.
“We made it happen with some excellent and committed partners and a small and dedicated team, which grew as the program did.
“Our Ranger Raptor finished as well as it started, and seriously looked like we could drive it back to Melbourne.
“It’s an incredible truck, and we are immensely proud of this outstanding result.”
Toby Price/Jason Duncan won outright in Cars, while David Walsh was crowned Bikes champion for the fourth successive year.