M-Sport ⨉ Neil Woolridge Motorsport Ford Ranger T1+
We’ve been speaking to M-Sport’s Matthew Wilson (Race Team Manager and Development Driver) about their new partnership with Neil Woolridge Motorsport and the Ranger T1+.
M-Sport and NWM’s partnership is essential to create the ultimate Ranger for the Dakar Rally. NWM contracted by both Ford Motor Company (USA) and Ford of South Africa creating cross-country Ranger variants, and M-Sport having an abundance of experience in some of the world’s most acclaimed motorsport series since 1997, makes for a inevitably successful recipe.
From April 2022 M-Sport will be the official European headquarters for NWM and global distributor of the T1+ rally-raid customer-faced program.
The T1+ is NWM’s new rally raid specification Ranger following their previous T1 which was powered by a Mustang-derived 5.0-litre V8. The 2021 upgraded T1+ is now powered by Ford’s V6 EcoBoost engine and runs on 37” tires. With 350mm of wheel travel and a body that’s 300mm wider than stock, this machine not only looks aggressive but performs like it to.
“M-Sport and NWM have a shared vision, we feel that our respective outfits complement each other in a way that would create an unrivalled rally raid outfit. The NWM Ranger has definite potential, it is built on a very solid foundation, Matthew tested the car during our visit and was very positive about his experience. It’s fair to say I’m not one to stray away from a challenge, it’s what I love about motorsport and it’s no secret we have some work to do to contend for the prestigious Dakar Rally. That said, I am confident that M-Sport and NWM have the tools and know-how to push the Ford Ranger T1+ to new heights”
- Malcolm Wilson OBE (M-Sport Managing Director)
Q&A with Matthew Wilson
M-Sport’s Race Team Manager and Development Driver
-
NWM and M-Sport have both had long working relationships with Ford so it’s a really good fit. M-Sport will become the European distributor and sales provider. We will also have a vehicle based at M-Sport so we can look at the further development of the Ranger and also offer customers the chance to test the vehicle in Europe.
-
€525,000 (£450k).
-
Yes the T1+ is road legal as the Rally Raid events use the public roads to get between the special stages.
-
Dakar is certainly on the radar for both NWM and M-Sport and it’s been an ambition of both companies for a long time to go to Dakar. We will not be entering Dakar as an official entry in 2023 but you never know beyond that.
-
It’s very difficult to say at this moment.
-
The Ranger T1+ is eligible for Dakar as it is now and a customer could enter Dakar in 2023 if they wanted to.
-
Come back to us at the end of 2023 😊 haha.
-
You will have to ask the guys from MS-RT that question.
T1+ Specification
| Driver side | Left | Handbrake | Yes |
| Engine | 3.5L V6 TiVCT Ecoboost | Seats | Sparco Pro 2000 / Evo |
| Power | 300kW @ 4950rpm | Dampers | BOS XC8, 3-way adjustable, 350mm travel, 1 per wheel |
| Steering | SADEV | ECU | MOTEC M1 |
| Steering wheel | Sparco, adjustable up and down | PDM | MOTEC PDM30 x2 |
| Gearbox | SADEV SC924 Evo | Driver display | MOTEC D153 |
| Clutch | AP Triple Plate | Dash display | MOTEC C187 |
| Flat shift | Up & Down | Rear view camera | Yes, activated on reverse and keypad |
| Driveshafts | NWM Worx | Battery | Super B Lithium Ion |
| Fuel tank | 485L - Aerotec Laborotories FT3-1999 | Speed limit control | Yes |
| Wheel | Evo Corse 7x17 ET 45 6x139.7 CB 102 Matt Black | Top speed | 180km/h - controlled |
| Tyre | BF Goodrich KDR2+ M – 37” | Trip meter | Sabertrip x2 |
| Spare wheels | x2 under car | Air conditioning | Yes, PDM controlled |
| Brake calliper | Brembo 6-pot - air cooled front, water cooled rear | On-board hydraulic jacks | BOS |
| Brake disc | Brembo | Bodywork | Carbon fibre/aramid combination |
| Brake pad | Endless | Fire extinguisher onboard | 2 x Lifeline Zero 275 |
| Pedal box | Tilton, adjustable | Fire extinguisher manual | FEV AFFF 2.4L |
New-generation vehicle built by NWM completed in 2021.
Built to T1 4x4 class rules – ready to race and compete at the highest level globally.
Ford/NWM makes use of the 3.5 EcoBoost V6 engines supplied directly from Ford Performance in the US (same base engine as Ford GT and F-150 Raptor).
Tried and tested vehicle and chassis base, improved on using the last 7 years experience which included debut victory in 2013 for the V8 Ranger’s first race.
Running in the 2021 South African Cross-Country championship as direct competition against the Toyota Gazoo Racing team who uses this championship as a test bed for international events and allows us to directly and easily gauge ourselves against the world’s competition.
Engineering assistance on the engines and turbos provided by the team from Ford Performance in the US.
Production was hampered by Covid-19, but, 3 cars were built for 2021 in the interim of the T1+ rule changes– with all key deliverables met and the Ranger winning overall on debut in 2021. Further to that, zero mechanical failures and a 14 out of 14 event finish rate.
