The aggressive body of the Ford Raptor T1+ was made so that it could compete in the Dakar Rally. The steel spaceframe of the T1+ is paired with 37-inch knobby tires on a long-travel suspension. The body is made of carbon fiber and painted in Red Bull colors. Ford and M-Sport created the Ranger-based race truck, which led to the amazing Raptor Dakar racer. Each of Ford’s standard Raptor models is a nice-looking car. Still, there’s no doubt that the new Raptor T1+ is the most powerful. The high-riding, V-8-powered rally racer is not meant to be used by everyday people, which is a shame. The T1 was actually made to race in the Dakar Rally. It was first shown off at this week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. A Rallying Hawk The Ford Raptor T1+’s suspension system is very advanced. It has Fox external-bypass dampers that can be adjusted, a front and back double-wishbone setup, and a maximum travel of 13.8 inches. It has huge 37-inch off-road tires on 17-inch wheels that look orange. Ford claims that the T1+ has 15.7 inches of ground clearance, which is two inches more than the Ford Bronco Raptor. The T1+ has steel spaceframes that hold up its carbon fiber body pieces. Ford and Red Bull have worked together since last year when Ford announced it would be returning to Formula One. Ford’s Dakar car also has a Red Bull-themed livery. The T1+ also has a front skid plate with a “Raptor” hole and the well-known “FORD” logo on the grille between two C-shaped light elements, both of which look good. We also get the extra tires out, which can be seen on the side of the car through the bodywork. The rally-bred Raptor has a 5.0-liter V-8 engine built on the Coyote, along with an exhaust system and oil system designed for racing. Ford didn’t say how much horsepower the T1 has, but on its first lap at the Goodwood hill climb, it sounds very strong and quick. We first heard about the Raptor T1+ last year when Ford and M-Sport worked together to make the Ranger-based race car that ran in the 2024 Dakar Rally. In August, Carlos Sainz Sr. and Nani Roma will race the Raptor T1+. Ford says that two more drivers will be named later. The next Dakar Rally will take place from January 4–17, 2025.
