Photo: Ford
There are just a handful of races around this world that can be considered iconic for the motorsport world. The Baja 1000 is one of them, and despite being 56 years old in 2023, it appears to be getting better and better.
Take this year's edition, for instance. Officially titled BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 1000, presented by K&N, the race kicks off today, November 13, and will run up until November 18, but brings something entirely new to the table.
The race kicks off in La Paz, way down on the map, towards the tip of the Baja California Peninsula. This is the first time in the history of the race the start takes place there – and that was chosen as a means to celebrate the fact this edition marks the 50th year of Score involvement in the race.
The route will take cars and drivers to the finish line located no less than 1,300 miles (2,092 km) north, in Ensenada, Mexico, marking the 25th time in the competition's history when we're seeing a point-to-point peninsula run.
As the race is about to start American carmaker Ford announced its two factory-backed entries in the race. And we're dealing with two almost stock, but not quite, types of Raptor.
The first is of course the Bronco Raptor, which will have to fill the big shoes of another example of this SUV breed, the one that all the way back in 1969 won the overall Baja competition. Only this one will try to do that as it races in the Stock Mid-Size category.
What that means is the Bronco is almost entirely stock, down to the 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine good for 418 horsepower and the 10-speed transmission. What changed is the suspension system, now centered around modified Fox shocks. The SUV also has custom front and rear bumpers, LED lights for night-time driving, and new Method wheels to help it tackle the terrain easier.
The 2024 Ford Bronco Raptor meant for the Baja 1000 will be driven by Brad Lovell and Jason Hutter, winners of the 2022 edition of the race, and Bailey Campbell, who you've most recently seen take on the Rebelle Rally in a Mustang Mach-E Rally.
The second Ford vehicle to take on Baja with the Blue Oval's blessing is a variant of the F-150 Raptor R. It too is stock when it comes to some of the most important bits and pieces. That includes the 5.2-liter supercharged engine good for 700 horsepower and the 10-speed transmission that controls it, which was only upgraded with small changes made to the intake system.
The truck too was fitted with Fox shocks, but adds "race-tailored” front and rear coil springs. The pickup moves on Method wheels and is fitted with extra lights to help with driving in the dark. Visually the F-150 differentiates itself from the stock version through the custom front and rear bumpers. Just like the Bronco, it was fitted with a safety cage and fuel cells.
This "third generation of F-150 Raptor to compete in the Baja 1000" will be driven into battle by a team made up of Loren Healy (Ultra4 Racing Class 4600 National champion), Jason Scherer (three times King of the Hammers champion), and John Williams.
According to Ford, both teams and their respective rides will take on the sportsman route of the race, which means they will have to cover under 1,200 miles (1,931 km) of terrain.
The race kicks off in La Paz, way down on the map, towards the tip of the Baja California Peninsula. This is the first time in the history of the race the start takes place there – and that was chosen as a means to celebrate the fact this edition marks the 50th year of Score involvement in the race.
The route will take cars and drivers to the finish line located no less than 1,300 miles (2,092 km) north, in Ensenada, Mexico, marking the 25th time in the competition's history when we're seeing a point-to-point peninsula run.
As the race is about to start American carmaker Ford announced its two factory-backed entries in the race. And we're dealing with two almost stock, but not quite, types of Raptor.
The first is of course the Bronco Raptor, which will have to fill the big shoes of another example of this SUV breed, the one that all the way back in 1969 won the overall Baja competition. Only this one will try to do that as it races in the Stock Mid-Size category.
What that means is the Bronco is almost entirely stock, down to the 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine good for 418 horsepower and the 10-speed transmission. What changed is the suspension system, now centered around modified Fox shocks. The SUV also has custom front and rear bumpers, LED lights for night-time driving, and new Method wheels to help it tackle the terrain easier.
The 2024 Ford Bronco Raptor meant for the Baja 1000 will be driven by Brad Lovell and Jason Hutter, winners of the 2022 edition of the race, and Bailey Campbell, who you've most recently seen take on the Rebelle Rally in a Mustang Mach-E Rally.
The second Ford vehicle to take on Baja with the Blue Oval's blessing is a variant of the F-150 Raptor R. It too is stock when it comes to some of the most important bits and pieces. That includes the 5.2-liter supercharged engine good for 700 horsepower and the 10-speed transmission that controls it, which was only upgraded with small changes made to the intake system.
The truck too was fitted with Fox shocks, but adds "race-tailored” front and rear coil springs. The pickup moves on Method wheels and is fitted with extra lights to help with driving in the dark. Visually the F-150 differentiates itself from the stock version through the custom front and rear bumpers. Just like the Bronco, it was fitted with a safety cage and fuel cells.
This "third generation of F-150 Raptor to compete in the Baja 1000" will be driven into battle by a team made up of Loren Healy (Ultra4 Racing Class 4600 National champion), Jason Scherer (three times King of the Hammers champion), and John Williams.
According to Ford, both teams and their respective rides will take on the sportsman route of the race, which means they will have to cover under 1,200 miles (1,931 km) of terrain.
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