Brad and Byam Lovell are set to defend their Production 4WD class victory at Australia’s most challenging off-road race, the Tatts Finke Desert Race, in a Ford Ranger Raptor. The race truck is the same vehicle that secured class wins at both the 2022 SCORE-International Baja 1000 and the 2023 Finke Desert Race.
For 2024, Ford Performance engineers in Australia have completed a series of upgrades to enhance performance while retaining core production components from the road-going Ranger Raptor.
Ford Performance will return to Alice Springs next month to defend its class title at the 2024 Tatts Finke Desert Race. Off-road racing hall of famer Brad Lovell will once again be behind the wheel, with his son and co-driver Byam Lovell joining him.
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This dynamic duo won the Production 4WD class in the 2023 event with an impressive overall time of 5 hours, 56 minutes, and 30 seconds, including a record-breaking run from Apatula to Alice Springs in 2 hours, 51 minutes, and 18 seconds.
Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance Motorsports, expressed his excitement: “The Ranger Raptor is Ford Performance’s global off-road racing platform, and we are proud to return to the vehicle’s spiritual homeland of the Aussie Outback to defend our 2023 victory.” He emphasized that while the team has improved the Ranger Raptor for the 2024 event, the race truck still retains the same engine, transmission, and suspension components found in the showroom model.
Last year marked the Lovells’ first time racing at Finke. With a year of experience, they are eager to retain their title. “The Finke Desert Race is truly unique, with a challenging combination of high speeds and seriously massive whoops,” said Brad Lovell. “I’m looking forward to facing off against a stronger field of competitors this year and showing what the Ranger Raptor is capable of.”
Ford Performance’s efforts are supported by Walkinshaw Performance, which provides vehicle servicing, event management, and logistical support. Engineering support comes from US-based off-road specialists Huseman Engineering. The Ranger Raptor raced in a similar specification to the Baja at last year’s Finke, but for this year’s event, the focus is on reducing weight and optimizing suspension calibrations for higher speeds typical of the Australian event.
Justin Capicchiano, Ford Performance and Special Vehicles Engineering Manager in Australia, noted, “Finke has an average speed nearly 35km/h faster than Baja, and by retuning the suspension and cutting weight, the Ranger Raptor will be the perfect weapon for Brad and Byam to defend their title.”
The Finke Desert Race covers over 460 kilometers between Alice Springs and Aputula (Finke) and will take place over the weekend of June 7-10.
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