All-New Ford Ranger Raptor Debuts At Asia Cross Country Rally 2023
What is Asia Cross Country Rally?
Asia Cross Country Rally commonly known as "AXCR or Asian Rally" is held in August every year starting from Thailand to various countries. Every year's route is unique.
Since 1996 till 2019, Asia Cross Country Rally has been held across the following countries: Kingdom of Thailand, Malaysia, Republic of Singapore, People's Republic of China, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Kingdom of Cambodia, and Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
Asia Cross Country Rally is sanctioned by The Federation International Automobile (FIA) - the same governing body as Formula-1, World Rally Championship (WRC) and Dakar Rally. Asia Cross Country Rally is currently, the largest cross-country rally event in Asia.
Asia Cross Country Rally was intended to be "the ultimate" test for all aspects of both the competitor's and team's skills to it limits by challenging the participants with multiple combinations of terrains ranging from mountainous area, jungle, swamp, beach side, river crossing, desert, plantation, tarmac to circuit - along with the many unpredictable weather conditions that mother nature produces in Asia.
Ford Thailand announced its partnership with legendary race team Feelinq Innovation Motorsport in hitting the tracks of Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) 2023 with the Next-Generation Ranger Raptor, only months after conquering the 2022 SCORE-International Baja 1000 and winning the showroom class at Finke Desert Race in Australia. Praised ‘unbeatable’ by Thai fans, the Ranger Raptor tackled more than 2,000km of varying and challenging terrains from Pattaya, Thailand, to Pakse, Laos, running from 13 – 19 August 2023.
Asia Cross Country Rally is currently the largest cross-country rally event in Asia. Sanctioned by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), Royal Automobile Association of Thailand (RAAT), and the Association of Motorcycle Sport Club 360 Degrees, and is intended to be ‘the ultimate’ test for off-road vehicles in the region.
Led by Team Director Michael Freeman, Feeliq Innovation Motorsport accumulated its long race history on circuits with more than ten team championships since 2012. In 2023, Ford Thailand sponsors the team by providing the high-performance Ranger Raptor along with supporting parts. Combining the team’s vehicle modification expertise with the Raptor’s unmatched off-road capabilities, this marks the first time the Ranger Raptor entered Asia Cross Country Rally in Thailand.
Freeman piloted the Ranger Raptor (#124) in the 2023 AXCR with his navigator Chaiya Chommalee – a professional rally expert who has been racing for more than forty years.
“I feel privileged and thrilled for this race opportunity as this is my first cross-country racing. This type of race is my dream for a very long time, and I am grateful that we formed this partnership with Ford Thailand at the right time. From our daily practices, we see how mentally challenging comparing to circuit races as we are using all our five senses to go through the courses. Our goal today is to gather as much experience as possible out of this race and finish the race perfectly without any mistake”
The Next-Gen Ford Ranger Raptor entered the Production Asia (T2A) class at AXCR, which categorized race vehicles that keep original factory engines and parts. The Raptor has been equipped with required safety harnesses and roll bars. New BF-Goodrich tires for extreme off-road conditions, mudguards, strengthened underbody protection as well as spare tires and a winch in the truck bed are installed. Decked in the Code Orange livery that displays Ford Performance DNA and this partnership efforts, the team adjusted the vehicle’s ride height with threaded bodies; keeping the factory FOX shock absorbers, while leveraging the original 2.0L diesel bi-turbo engine from the previous generation Ranger.
“We are excited for this partnership and the opportunity to step deeper into the Thai motorsport scene in a more challenging manner. This off-road race will provide a great platform to showcase both the Ranger Raptor’s off-road performance and the team’s skills, allowing Ford fans to see how truly ‘unbeatable’ this vehicle is”
Q&A with Michael Freeman
Team Director & Driver - RMA GROUP / RMA SPECIAL VEHICLES
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Apart from the marketing perspective of racing the New Gen, there are considerable technical differences between the previous generation. Including EBB brake system. This with the updated Deep Slip Mode, there is a considerable difference between the two models.
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Considerable work is performed, starting by taking the body off of the frame and stripping back to a bare shell for the fitment of a chrome moly roll cage, custom-made seat and race harness mounting points. A lot of detailed work on body to chassis mounting and a lot of engine bay sealing to stop mud ingress. Brake pad upgrades were also required.
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Threaded body dampers we used to make ride height adjustable. Apart from that, the suspension was basically standard with some additional shielding on rear canisters.
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Extremely well received with the initial V6 offering. There was some scepticism that the launch of the diesel version would work, but the diesel version has become popular in Thailand and Asia.
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I am part owner of Innovation Motorsport - the team that built the truck in conjunction with RMA Special Vehicles. I am very much hands on coordination with our commercial partners and the engineering teams. As the program will expand considerably in 2024 this role will become far more involved.
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Prior to the event, my experience was in circuit racing. I enquired within my network who was the number one English speaking co-driver in Thailand and his name was put forward by numerous experts. We made contact and he ‘interviewed’ me on my goals for the event and my temperament. He raised the point that a lot of circuit drivers struggle to make the transition. Our personalities clicked and we both agreed on the objective to gain experience in the 2023 event in preparation for a full attack in 2024.
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Yes correct. We have a demountable rear facing winch in the pick up bed. Generally the winch is used to recover the vehicle back onto the road rather than being stuck. However if forward winching is required, two people can move the winch in under 90 seconds. Although covered by the facia the mounting bracket is quite complex and fabricated out of CNC made components.