It seems that not only the 2012 Formula Ford will be stylish, but it’s also going to be very safe. It’s designed with all top notch safety requirements, powerful engine to boost performance, and also FIA standard regulations. The company is sure that the car will appeal both drivers and the racing team, since the overall performance is very great and promising.

Ford Raptor Desert Racer

Most of us can admit to the fact that we’ve all imagined ourselves driving a Ford F-150 SVT Raptor in a desert race, and sharing the podium with guys like Carl Renezeder or Kurt LeDuc. After all, with 11.5-inches of front suspension travel, Fox racing shocks, special transmission tuning and 35-inch tall BFG tires, the Raptor is designed to handle the rigors of high-speed off-roading right off the showroom floor.

While it would be great to trade paint with elite off-road racers, our colleague and experienced automotive journalist Sue Mead had a better idea. She wanted to take a 5.4-liter V-8 equipped SVT Raptor and participate in the annual Dakar Rally, taking place in January 2011 in South America.

The Dakar Rally (formerly the Paris Dakar Rally) is the most grueling motorsports event in the world. Since 2009, its been run through the deserts and mountains of Chile and Argentina.

Ford Raptor Race Team

Mead is well versed and experienced in off-road racing, and has participated in the Dakar race once before as a co-driver. In 2000, she took part in the race when it was held in Africa, along with veteran off-road racers Darren Skilton and Troy Johnson racing for Kia. If you recall, that race was stopped by a terrorist threat, and many of the racers, including Mead’s team were evacuated. Mead was also a support driver for Volkswagen in the 2009 Dakar Rally.

It’s been Mead’s wish to go back and compete in the Dakar and it seemed like the Raptor would make the perfect vehicle to take it on. Fortunately, Ford also thought it would be a great venue to show off the truck’s potential, so team Mead, Skilton and Johnson were given a 2010 pre-production Molten Orange Raptor by Ford for the race.

But just taking a Raptor off the street and putting it into the Dakar race isn’t realistic. It’s going to take lots of preparation and some modifications to get the truck race ready. Fortunately, Johnson is an experienced racer and fabricator; but more importantly, he’s the owner and instructor at the FabSchool located in Riverside, California. So he thought it would be great to have his students prep the truck with a complete roll-cage and other structural and suspension enhancements. In addition, it would also allow the team to get the truck done quickly with more manpower dedicated to the vehicle.

The students will be fabricating a roll cage and additional suspension upgrades to prepare the Raptor for the race.

The students at the FabSchool have already torn apart the truck’s interior and cut away portions of the cab’s inner sheetmetal. This is done to tuck the tubing closer to the sides and roof of the cab, maximizing head and leg room while adding strength and increasing safety.

While it may sound sketchy, trusting the safety of your roll cage to students learning how to fabricate and weld, Johnson has full confidence in their work.

“I’ve been a fabricator for more than 25 years,” Johnson said. “I’ve worked with Walker Evans, Kurt DeLuc, Carl Renezeder and more. So we like to tell our students that you’re only as good as the people you work with.”

Johnson enjoys taking his experience and talents and training young students to fabricate using the techniques he’s acquired over many years of building professional race vehicles.

New King Off-Road Racing shocks will replace the factory 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks. The rear dampers are 2-inch external bypass custom made to fit in the stock location. The front shocks are 3-inch coil-overs with a custom shock tower mount built by the FabSchool.

His efforts in are evident in the first portions of the Raptor’s roll cage, which were trial fitted into the interior, and fit perfectly along the contours of the roof and A-pillars. Taking a further look at some of the work around the classroom and shop, the chassis, cages and welds on some of the vehicles there, demonstrate the precision and talents students are being taught by experienced professionals who aren’t afraid to race what they build.

But it’s going to take more than a simple roll cage to prepare this street SVT Raptor to take on the harsh rigors of a race like the Dakar. So in addition to a full roll cage, the truck will also receive racing seats, a new fuel cell in the bed, safety equipment, sand ramps, a compressor and upgraded King Off-Road Racing shocks. 35-inch tires on 17-inch rims are courtesy of General Tires.

Holes in the Raptor’s floor have been cut above key body mounts that will also aid to secure the roll cage to the frame.

The shop at the FabSchool has two CNC milling machines and all the fabrication tools necessary to start piecing the truck together in time for the event. Along with Mead, Skilton and Johnson, mechanics Dan Moore and James Fisher will be a part of the support team.

“You don’t realize how much logistics it takes to put a team and vehicle together,” Johnson said. “We are still looking for sponsors and there is a chance that we may get the Raptor all done, but it may remain sitting if we can’t get the sponsorship dollars needed to compete in the race.”

Johnson doesn’t have too much time to worry about that, however. He’s busy devoting much of his attention to getting the Raptor ready.

“We need to get the Raptor completed and on a cargo ship by the first week of November,” Mead said. “So that means it needs to be completed by the third or fourth week of October so we can do some testing prior to the race.”

PickupTrucks.com will be following the build and testing of the Dakar Raptor and showcase all of the upgrades and improvements necessary to get this truck ready for competition. In the meantime, team Mead, Skilton and Johnson continue to prepare for the long road ahead and look forward to the day they can roll the Raptor onto the starting line.

Ford F-150 price quote  and incentive and rebate request

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Ford F-150 price quote  and incentive and rebate request

Get an  Internet Price

Black Forest Ford Mustang GT

Blackforest Motorsports has announced that it will return to GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series competition, campaigning a Ford Mustang GT in next year’s GT Class championship. The Rolex Series GT Class is expected to be the most competitive in series history and the Ford Mustang GT will make an exciting new addition to the category.

TPN/Blackforest Motorsports is now solely owned by Tom Nastasi following the retirement of long time team leader Brian Nott in 2009. The Mustang entry marks a return to Rolex Series competition for the Deland, Florida-based organization, which has a solid record of racing the Ford Mustang in GRAND-AM competition.

  The team brought Ford Racing a Cinderella debut with the Mustang FR500C’s season-opening victory at Daytona International Speedway in 2005 and also played a critical role in securing the Manufacturer Championship for Ford that year.

The team built and entered a GT-Class Mustang Cobra in the 2007 24 Hours of Daytona. The car’s chassis was built by Crawford Race Cars of Denver, NC, and was mated to a Roush/Yates-sourced 5-liter V8 engine. The #15 Cobra was retired after 224 laps due to repeated gearbox problems.

“This project has been a long time in development, and I think that with the new Ford Mustang GT, we are on the same page with Ford Racing in terms of what the best package for the Rolex Series is,” explained Nastasi, alluding to some friction that developed over use of the Crawford-built car instead of Ford Racing’s FR500GT Mustang. In the end, neither car was particularly successful.

Blackforest Motorsports Mustang

Most recently, Nastasi and the Blackforest team entered a Borla-sponsored Dodge Challenger in the season-ending Continental Tire Series race at Miller Motorsports Park. The GS-class car finished 11th, just 22 seconds behind the leader, co-driven by Ian James. James will rejoin Nastasi in the #11 Mustang for the 2011 Rolex GT Series.

“We are very excited to see the Ford Mustang competing in the Rolex Sports Car Series GT Class,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports. “TPN/Blackforest Motorsports has a long and successful history racing the Ford Mustang and we are confident that the Mustang GT will only add to that tradition.”

Blackforest Motorsports Ford Mustang Cobra GT

The car will be previewed next week during Test Days at Virginia International Raceway. Working together, Ford Racing and Blackforest Motorsports have proven to be a winning combination in the past. Their return to the Rolex Series should be a significant concern to the established players there.

Sure, the Ford Fusion sedan makes a decent NASCAR racer. But Fusion, a family sedan on a racetrack? It’s easy to see why both NASCAR and automakers wanted to get their hands on something with a hotter reputation. Like, say, Ford Mustang
.

The NASCAR Mustang makes its long-awaited debut at the Daytona International Speedway on Friday for NASCAR’s nationwide series, and Ford isn’t missing a moment to promote it.

“NASCAR came to us and wanted to differentiate the Nationwide Series from the Cup Series,” says Pat DiMarco, Ford’s NASCAR Program manager. “Initially we looked at Fusion to keep the branding the same across both series, but when they really wanted to differentiate it, the natural choice was Mustang.”

Remember, though, the cars are hardly stock. They are replicas made to carry some of the looks of the originial.

Visit a Houston Ford Dealership for a low price quote.

In the morning, the drivers were greeted with snow-covered roads and below freezing temperatures. Not exactly ideal conditions for Mexico testing. The day was shaping up to be a repeat of a previously aborted test that was snowed out, but the midday sun came out to melt the ice and frost, allowing the team to successfully put in a much needed 170km of seat time before their inaugural WRC Event.

Visit  Ford Houston

Ford’s Finns experienced a tough opening day yesterday when both were early starters and played the role of unwilling road sweepers to create a clear driving line through the loose gravel. Both enjoyed a better start position today and had the benefit of cleaner roads, as the drivers ahead swept the stones from the dirt surface to leave a faster line. Although Hirvonen and Latvala were second and third fastest on today’s leg, they did not regain as much time on those ahead as they hoped.

Overcast skies greeted competitors as they departed the rally base in Leon, 400km north-west of Mexico City, early this morning and while the sun appeared sporadically, temperatures were significantly cooler than pre-event. The day comprised two identical loops of three long gravel speed tests north and east of the city. As yesterday, the morning loop ended with a short asphalt special stage close to the service park and the afternoon closed with two head-to-head duels at the race circuit on the edge of the city. The nine tests covered 158.82km.

Latvala was fifth after the first day and the 24-year-old Finn climbed to fourth on the opening stage. He dropped around 15 seconds after stalling and puncturing a tyre and ended the morning frustrated at not having regained more time on his rivals. Latvala decided to stiffen the suspension settings on his Focus RS WRC and the impact was immediate. He was second fastest on the next two stages and an error free afternoon ensured he returned to Leon happier with his performance.

“It was a much better afternoon than morning,” said Latvala. “I think our set-up was too soft and I felt more confident throughout the afternoon’s stages. I tried to drive more aggressively after lunch and my times were better but I’m still frustrated. I struggled in fast uphill sections and in long, slow bends.

“I dropped a few seconds this morning when the car stalled and then I punctured the front right tyre on the same stage. It was a slow puncture so I could continue to the finish but I lost about 15 seconds. This morning it seemed that the harder I pushed, the more the car slid wide in the corners and the more time I lost. The changes I made at lunchtime were a big step in the right direction,” he added.

Championship leader Hirvonen also climbed a place in the opening stage with second fastest time. Despite also puncturing a tyre, he closed the overnight 30.2sec margin from Latvala to 10.3sec after the morning loop. He, too, stiffened his car’s suspension and set three top three times this afternoon, despite feeling unwell, to end the day 16.0sec behind his team-mate and fellow countryman.

“This morning was better than yesterday, and this afternoon was better than this morning, but I still don’t have a perfect feeling with the car,” said Hirvonen. “I gained time with my road position, but not enough. I changed the damper settings on the car after the first stage to improve the feeling but then the rear left tyre punctured on the next stage. It was a twisty test so I was able to continue without changing the tyre, but I drove for 15km like that.

“After hardening the suspension at lunchtime the car felt much better in the bumpy sections and that gave me more confidence. I’ve felt quite unwell this afternoon in my stomach. It made no difference on the stages because the adrenaline kicked in, but I felt weaker and weaker on the road sections as the afternoon went on,” he added.

BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson admitted that the team’s target was now to maximise its manufacturers’ championship points haul. “We lost too much time yesterday which we were unable to regain today. Our pace improved, but not by enough, so now we need to ensure we can bring both cars home in good points-scoring positions,” he said.

News from other Ford teams

Stobart M-Sport Ford drivers Henning Solberg and Ilka Minor are sixth in their Focus RS WRC. Despite brake problems in the opening stage of each loop, the Norwegian driver posted a second and three third fastest times to lie 25.3sec behind Hirvonen. Munchi’s Ford duo Federico Villagra and Jorge Perez Companc climbed to seventh in their Focus RS WRC. Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin retired on the day’s opening stage when they went off the road on a left bend 2km before the end of the stage and became stuck on rocks. Monster World Rally Team’s Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino also went out on the opening test when they braked late into a corner and their Focus RS WRC slid into a ditch, breaking the front left suspension.

Tomorrow’s Route

The final leg comprises just three stages after the pre-event cancellation of the day’s second test, the 7.05km Sauz Seco, for safety reasons. Drivers restart at 07.45 and after two stages in the hills north and east of Leon, they face a final pass over the super special stage at the city’s race circuit. Competitors return to Leon for the finish ceremony at 13.00 after a further 51.49km.

-source: ford

Tens of thousands of fans packed the narrow streets of Guanajuato last night to view the spectacular start ceremony. The city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its beauty, was awash with colour, music and dancing as the world’s leading drivers crossed the start podium.

The action began in earnest this morning as drivers journeyed high into the hills north and east of León. The bulk of the competition was based around two identical loops of three gravel speed tests. The opening loop ended with a short sealed surface test behind the service park. Two passes over a super special stage at the race circuit on the edge of the city, where two drivers at a time raced head-to-head, ended the action after nine stages totalling 137.24km.

The countryside stages climbed to a breathtaking 2737 metres, the thinner air at such high altitudes sapping engines of up to 30 per cent of their usual power. After several days of hot sunshine, today was more overcast and cooler with a strong breeze. But conditions were bone dry and the roads were covered in a fine layer of loose gravel, which was to prove such a handicap to the Ford duo.

Hirvonen was first to start after his Rally Sweden win last month and had the worst of the conditions. Latvala was third in the start order and while conditions were slightly easier, the 24-year-old was still at a considerable disadvantage. He ended the opening loop in fifth and admitted: “I was too careful and cautious on the opening stage. I didn’t drive well and couldn’t find a rhythm. My driving improved after that but I slid a lot on the loose gravel. I hit some bumps on the third stage and they threw the car into the air. I was worried the impact may have damaged it but everything was OK.”

He retained fifth during the afternoon loop, reaching the overnight halt 61.2sec off the lead. “The grip was better this afternoon and I drove as fast as I could without taking risks. However, I was still too hard on my tyres. The car’s starter motor broke after an impact in a compression. I was afraid of the car stalling in a stage because then I wouldn’t have been able to restart it. I’m sure tomorrow will be better in terms of grip and I’m looking forward to that,” added Latvala.

Hirvonen was sixth on the opening stage and remained there throughout the day. Grip levels were better in the afternoon when the stages were repeated. However, the 29-year-old still suffered as road opener, as the different driving line taken by the lesser-powered cars in the morning covered the clean route created by the leading cars earlier.

“It was so slippery on the loose gravel this morning that I could do nothing more,” said Hirvonen. “There was a fine layer of stones that I cleared for everyone else. There was so much gravel that even one car lower in the start order made a big difference and it was worse than I thought. The grip was more consistent this afternoon, but the clean route had been messed up by the later starters so I had to start all over again in developing a new line.

“I had two close escapes on the second stage this morning. First I hit a rock in a fast right corner and then a concrete post in a left bend. I’m amazed I didn’t puncture a tyre – it shows how strong they are. The roles will be reversed tomorrow and I will have a good start position so I will try to make up the lost ground and catch those ahead of me,” added Hirvonen.

BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson admitted he was surprised Hirvonen dropped so much time. “It’s a little strange and we’ll review everything this evening. But both Mikko and Jari-Matti, who drove well today, will have a better start position tomorrow and I hope it will be our turn to take advantage,” he said.

News from other Ford teams
Stobart M-Sport Ford drivers Henning Solberg and Ilka Minor are seventh, 1min 09.7sec ahead of team-mates Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin. The Norwegian lost a little time this afternoon after hitting a rock and upsetting his car’s balance. Munchi’s Ford drivers Federico Villagra and Jorge Perez Companc are ninth, the Argentines unhappy with the brakes and car’s handling this morning. Monster World Rally Team’s Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino are 10th in their Focus RS WRC on the team’s WRC debut, the Americans losing a minute when the car stopped after an impact this afternoon.

Tomorrow’s Route
The second leg is the longest, with the bulk of the action taking place over two loops of three gravel tests in the hills north and east of León. The opening stage of each loop is the longest of the rally at 29.90km and the other two are both more than 23km. The short sealed surface test behind the service park will again end the morning loop, while two more passes over the super special stage will close the day. Drivers restart at 07.00 for nine stages covering 158.82km before the overnight halt at 17.41.

Leaderboard after Day 1
1. P Solberg/P Mills NOR Citroen C4 1hr 23min 39.9sec
2. S Ogier/J Ingrassia FRA Citroen C4 1hr 23min 54.9sec
3. S Loeb/D Elena FRA Citroen C4 1hr 24min 07.4sec
4. D Sordo/M Marti ESP Citroen C4 1hr 24min 20.7sec
5. J-M Latvala/M Anttila FIN Ford Focus RS 1hr 24min 41.1sec
6. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 1hr 25min 11.4sec
7. H Solberg/I Minor NOR Ford Focus RS 1hr 25min 17.4sec
8. M Wilson/S Martin GBR Ford Focus RS 1hr 26min 27.1sec
9. F Villagra/J Perez Companc ARG Ford Focus RS 1hr 27min 59.7sec
10 K Block/A Gelsomino USA Ford Focus RS 1hr 28min 13.2sec

photo: worldrallypics.com

• 427 cubic inches (4.125? bore x 4.00? stroke), 9.5 deck 351 BOSS block with 4-bolt mains

• 535 hp @ 5600 / 545 lb.ft. torque @ 4500

• 10.5:1 compression ratio

• Neutral balance forged steel crank, steel H-beam connecting rods and forged pistons

• Aluminum Ford Racing Z cylinder heads with 2.02 intake and 1.60 exhaust valves w/ 63 CC chambers

• Hydraulic Roller Camshaft

• Includes water pump and harmonic balancer

• Distributor, Ignition Wires, Intake, Fuel System, Exhaust and Flywheel are needed to run

• Standard 12/12 FRPP Crate Engine Warranty

• $8,8000.00 MSRP