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Ford returns to defend Finke class title 

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: 3 June 2024

The Ford Ranger Raptor is hungry for more Finke Desert Race success with Brad and Byam Lovell returning this weekend.

The off-road hall of famer will drive the same Ranger Raptor that won its class in both the 2023 Finke Desert Race and 2022 SCORE-International Baja 1000, but has been equipped with a number of “key upgrades” from Ford Performance Australia.

These include reducing weight and optimising suspension calibrations and a new Finke-specific damper calibration, while the same suspension hardware and electronics as the standard road-going vehicle have been retained.

Brad and son, plus co-driver Byam Lovell will be aiming for more success in the Production 4WD class.

Last year they won the Production 4WD class with an overall time of 5 hours, 56 minutes and 30 seconds.

But this also included a class record-breaking run from Apatula to Alice Springs of 2 hours, 51 minutes and 18 seconds.

At Finke this weekend the team will receive support from Walkinshaw Performance.

Brad Lovell is excited to take on the challenge of Australia’s toughest off-road endurance race once again with over 460km between Alice Springs and Aputula (Finke) ahead.

“The Finke Desert Race is truly unique, with a challenging combination of high speeds and seriously massive whoops,” he says. 

“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 Motorsports Global Director Mark Rushbrook believes the Raptor can still take on Finke with success.

“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 said.

“While the team has been hard at work improving the Ranger Raptor for the 2024 event, our race truck still retains the same engine, transmission, and suspension components that roll off the showroom floor.”

Ford Performance and Special Vehicles Engineering Manager, Australia, Justin Capicchiano, said the Ranger Raptor is the “peferct weapon.”

Finke 2023 Ranger Raptor

The Ford Ranger Raptor at Finke in 2023.

“We have an exciting challenge ahead of us for Finke in 2024. Last year we came close to securing the overall class record and this year we return against a strong set of new competitors, he said.

“Finke has an average speed nearly 35km/h faster than Baja, and by returning the suspension and cutting weight, the Ranger Raptor will be the perfect weapon for Brad and Byam to defend their title.”

The 2024 Finke Desert Race takes place from June 7-10.

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