Killing two birds with one stone, Ford South Africa unveiled its latest NWM T1+ Ranger bakkie, which will take to the SARRC season while also celebrating the 60th birthday of the iconic Mustang. Here are details on the SARRC title-defending bakkie.
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The Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM) Ford Rally-Raid Team is gearing up for the 2024 South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) with some comprehensive updates. They’ve just introduced a new car but have also used this opportunity to welcome a major sponsor and aim to defend their Overall Production Vehicle and class titles from last year.
“Heading into the SA Rally-Raid Championship as the defending champions, it is exciting to be launching the 2024 race program with Neil Woolridge Motorsport featuring a redesigned Ford Ranger that amplifies the bold styling of our latest model,” says Doreen Mashinini, General Manager for Marketing at Ford South Africa.
Mashinini further reiterated that the Ranger is Mzansi’s best-selling double cab bakkie which is why the changes to the bespoke NWM T1+ challenger have been realigned with the current model. The is undoubtedly the team’s centrepiece for the 2024 SARRC season which sports a bold and muscular look with functional enhancements for aerodynamics, cooling, and packaging, aimed at tackling the challenging rally-raid conditions. With several of the bespoke bodywork aspects inspired by the current generation Ranger, only several cosmetic bits like the headlights, taillights and grille are shared with a Ranger that can be found on the showroom floor but Ford has reiterated that each bakkie to wear the moniker is made to the same ‘Built Ford Tough’ standards.
Aside from the significantly updated car is the addition of the NWM Ford Rally-Raid Team’s new sponsor. Showcased on the exterior livery, the NWM T1+ Ranger features a prominent Shell motif, as its primary sponsor for the 2024 season. Alongside Shell, NTN Corporation and Veldskoen have joined as new sponsors, while existing partners like Ford Credit, Mastercraft, and Würth continue their support.
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Neil Woolridge, the team principal, is optimistic about the upcoming season, highlighting the thorough testing and development undergone to enhance the new NWM Ford Ranger’s performance and reliability. With reigning champions Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer, along with Lance Woolridge and Kenny Gilbert, the team is ready to compete in the SARRC Production Vehicle championship and continue going against the Toyota Works team with its equally formidable Hilux.
The redesigned Ford Ranger ‘Ultimate’ (the new T1+ class name for the local series) incorporates lessons learned from NWM’s extensive rally-raid experience. It boasts improved aerodynamics, cooling, and off-road capabilities, aligning with the 2024 FIA rules. The vehicle features tweaks for better handling, enhanced damper cooling, and improved differential protection, ensuring consistent performance in the toughest terrains. The Woolridges went into significant detail, demonstrating how the updates should improve performance as a result of comprehensive virtual testing.
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The team has also fine-tuned the twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 EcoBoost engine and optimized the differential system for reliability and consistency throughout the races. With FIA regulations, peak power of 265 kW is the goal with a permitted 170 km/h maximum speed. “There will be more power” was the most notable in the powertrain front but the team has additionally reduced the car’s weight as close to the 2 010 kg requirement while maintaining performance standards and ensuring it remains within the competitive specifications.
With these updates and their experienced team, the Neil Woolridge Motorsport Ford Rally-Raid Team is gearing up for an exciting and competitive 2024 season in the SARRC which is comprised of 7 rounds at 6 locations across the country.
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