Rally-Ready Ford Ranger Is Set To Go For The Win In South Africa

This year's appearance by Ford Ranger in the South African Rally-Raid Championship is everything from routine. Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM) created and manufactured the truck for the NWM Ford Castrol Team, which matches the current-generation Ranger in appearance, but it has a series of changes that allow it to withstand the SARRC's conditions.

The first race will take place on March 25, and the Ranger NWM Ford is bringing will be more than capable of handling the task. The team won two races and came in second last year, and the vehicle enhancements will strengthen the team's chances.

The revamped Ford Ranger keeps the former truck's butterfly doors, which are a distinctive characteristic of NMW, and uses high-tech carbon fiber and aramid weave for the interior and exterior. With 37-inch tires placed around 17-inch wheels hidden beneath flared wheel arches, the vehicle is 11.8-inch (300 mm) wider. The larger wheels also permit heavier brake discs. 

The truck's suspension is also changed, with a single-damper configuration replacing the dual-damper setup. New higher and lower control arms, as well as a larger drive shaft, are added to the pickup, allowing for more wheel travel. It rises from 11.0-inch (280 mm) to 13.7-inch (350 mm).

Ford's 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine delivers the same 402 hp (300 kW) and 442 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque as last year's vehicle. Ford Ranger has a max speed of 105 mph (170 km/h), which is electronically restricted.