The Baja 1000 has always been more than a race—it’s a rite of passage for vehicles and drivers alike, a relentless test of power, endurance, and adaptability against the vast, punishing terrain of the Baja California Peninsula. For Ford, Baja represents more than just a challenge; it’s woven into the brand’s identity. Bronco first earned its iconic status here in 1969, when Rod Hall and Larry Minor claimed a historic victory that established it as an authentic off-road champion. In the decades since, Ford’s vehicles have continued to make their mark in Baja, bringing cutting-edge off-road technology to a race that has defined endurance for over half a century.
This year, Ford Performance returns to the 2024 SCORE Baja 1000 with two standout competitors: the Bronco DR and Ranger Raptor. Both trucks, forged from years of innovation and hard-earned racing insights, embody Ford’s mission to push limits and engineer vehicles capable of thriving in extreme environments. Fresh from recent victories, the Bronco DR will be driven by Brad Lovell, Jason Scherer, and Jason Hutter, while the Ranger Raptor’s roster includes Bailey Campbell, Loren Healy, and John Williams III—each driver no stranger to the crucible that is Baja.
The Baja 1000, spanning over 800 miles of relentless desert, mountains, and coastal terrain, is recognized as one of the most grueling off-road races worldwide. Drivers face hours of intense racing across rocky paths, sand dunes, and unpredictable weather, all in a challenging return to the loop format. This race demands not only speed but also stamina and an unbreakable will to adapt to the desert’s every twist.
Ford Performance enters the Baja 1000 with a solid record of recent wins that underscore the vehicles’ resilience and reliability. In August, the Bronco DR took a class victory at the Vegas to Reno race, the longest off-road race in the United States. At the same time, Bronco also won two other classes in the same race to establish it as one of the dominant forces in off-road racing. The Bronco DR also secured victory in May in a week-long rally that served as its competition debut.
"The Bronco DR is a testament to the work we’ve done to deliver a purpose-built race truck that mirrors and builds upon the toughness and capability of the production Bronco," said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance. “It’s just as Built Wild as our stock vehicles.”
Bronco DR driver and Off-Road Hall of Famer Brad Lovell, who has been at the wheel for both of these recent victories - and the revival of the Bronco brand itself - is no stranger to Baja’s challenges. "The Bronco DR has shown it can handle some of the toughest terrain out there, even here in Mexico," Lovell said. "But Baja is always unpredictable. The 1000 is not just about speed — it’s about being able to adapt to whatever the desert throws at you. We’ve had a great year so far, and we’re looking to carry that momentum into this race."
The Ranger Raptor, which made its U.S. desert racing debut at Rebelle Rally, has already proven itself in Baja in the 2022 iteration of the race. Earlier this year, Brad Lovell drove the Ranger Raptor to victory in the Tatts-Finke Desert Race in Australia, leveraging the vehicle’s off-road capability on one of the most brutal courses in the Southern Hemisphere.
"The Raptor nameplate is built on the idea of extreme off-road performance, but the badge itself is earned in Baja," said Rushbrook. "We’ve seen what the Ranger Raptor can do in Australia, Thailand, and California, and now we’re excited to return to Mexico to see how far we’ve come since our first effort two years ago. Racing is about learning as much as it is winning, and the Baja 1000 will give us a lot of valuable information to continue improving the Ranger Raptor for our customers."
The Bronco DR’s connection to Baja runs deep. The Bronco nameplate earned legendary status in 1969 when Rod Hall and Larry Minor captured the overall win at the Baja 1000, the only four-wheel-drive vehicle to ever do so.
“Bronco’s history at Baja is something we’re incredibly proud of. Off-road racing has been part of Bronco’s spirit from the start," added Rushbrook. "This is about continuing our story that started over 50 years ago. The Bronco DR is the latest embodiment of that heritage, representing the ultimate expression of Bronco capability in its natural habitat."
As Ford Performance gears up for the 2024 Baja 1000, the Bronco DR and Ranger Raptor are set to tackle one of the ultimate proving grounds in off-road racing. For the Ford team, this isn’t just about victory—it’s about honoring a legacy that began on these trails and chance to carve new chapters into that storied terrain, one dusty mile at a time.
