Quick Facts:
- Vehicle: Ford’s Baja race entry, a race-prepared version of the production Bronco Raptor.
- Revealed: At Raptor Rally in Lake Havasu, Arizona, October 16 to 17, 2026.
- Race: SCORE Baja 1000, November 9 to 15, 2026.
- Drivers: Brad Lovell, Loren Healy and Vaughn Gittin Jr.
- Engine: Twin-turbocharged 3.0L EcoBoost V6, with no power figure in the reveal details.
- Tires: 37-inch BFGoodrich KDR3 racing tires.
- Availability: Race entry only. Ford announced no customer version.
- Best for: Raptor owners, Baja fans and anyone watching which race parts reach production.
5 min read
In This Article
Overview
Ford Racing revealed the Bronco Raptor race truck at Raptor Rally in Lake Havasu, Arizona, on October 16 to 17, 2026. It will run the SCORE Baja 1000 on November 9 to 15. Specifically, Ford built it from the production Bronco Raptor, with the twin-turbocharged 3.0L EcoBoost V6, Fox live-valve shocks, 37-inch BFGoodrich KDR3 racing tires, a carbon fiber roof and a roll cage. It is a race entry only, and Ford announced no customer version and no power figure.
Ford Racing calls the truck race-bred from 60 years of desert heritage in its own post on X. Its off-road racing page says the Bronco is still the only production 4×4 to win the Baja 1000. The same page also lists the Bronco Raptor as the 2025 Baja 1000 Stock Mid-Size champion. Ford Raptors also swept the Rebelle Rally 4×4 podium the same weekend.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official name | Ford Bronco Raptor Race Truck |
| Race | SCORE Baja 1000, November 9 to 15, 2026 |
| Course | 964.96-mile loop through Baja California Sur |
| Start and finish | San José del Cabo, a first for the race |
| Drivers | Brad Lovell, Loren Healy, Vaughn Gittin Jr. |
| Engine | Twin-turbocharged 3.0L EcoBoost V6 |
| Dampers | Fox live-valve shocks, revised suspension |
| Tires and wheels | 37-inch BFGoodrich KDR3, Method Race Wheels |
| Body and safety | Carbon fiber roof, roll cage |
| Not announced | Power output, customer version, price |
The table lists 37-inch tires, and the street Bronco Raptor rolls on 37s too. At 37 inches, a flat or a slow air-up costs real trail time. A race team has a crew for tire work. On the trail, the crew is you. For example, the Safety Seal truck tire repair kit, the ARB E-Z Deflator kit and the ARB CKMP12 compressor cover the repair, air-down and air-up steps. Check any compressor’s listed fill time against your own tire size before you buy.
Tire repair and air gear for 37-inch tires
ARB ARB505 Deflator Kit 10-60 PSI Tire Pressure Gauge Rapid Air Dow…
ARB CKMP12 Portable Air Compressor 12V High Performance and Output …
What Ford Changed on the Bronco Raptor Race Truck
The race truck starts from the street truck’s hardware. Ford lists the twin-turbocharged 3.0L EcoBoost V6 and Fox live-valve shocks, and describes the truck as based on the production model. According to Ford’s Bronco Raptor page, the street truck makes up to 418 hp and 440 lb-ft. It rides on the HOSS 4.0 system. Our report on the 3.0L EcoBoost V6 in the 2027 Bronco covers how Ford tunes this engine for other models.
Ford lists these changes for the race version:
- Improved cooling and air induction systems.
- A revised suspension with new front and rear bump stops.
- More dust filtration capacity for desert conditions.
- A Ford Racing Parts calibration and developmental chassis calibrations.
- Roll cage and carbon fiber roof.
- Method Race Wheels and Baja Designs lighting.
- 37-inch BFGoodrich KDR3 racing tires.
The tire diameter matches the street truck, which Ford sells on a 37 x 12.5R17 all-terrain tire. However, the tread differs, because the KDR3 is a racing tire. Ford has not published a power figure for the race truck. It also did not say whether the race engine tune differs from the street truck’s 418 hp.
Bronco Raptor Race Truck Drivers, Route and Dates
Brad Lovell, Loren Healy and Vaughn Gittin Jr. will drive the truck. Ford named the lineup in its reveal coverage. According to Kristen Goslawski, Ford Racing’s Off-Road Motorsports Supervisor, the team built on the previous truck instead of starting over. She described the changes as “thoughtful improvements.”
The 2026 Baja 1000 runs November 9 to 15, according to Ford Racing’s race listing. Also, its course is a 964.96-mile loop through Baja California Sur. Notably, the race starts and finishes in San José del Cabo for the first time in its history.
However, Ford did not say how the three drivers will split the miles. It also did not name the class the truck will enter. Those details are still open.
What This Means for You
If you own or plan to buy a Bronco Raptor, one detail matters most. Ford says the race truck carries developmental chassis calibrations destined for future production Raptor models. However, Ford did not say which calibrations, or when they arrive.
If you are deciding whether to buy a Raptor now, this changes little today. Because Ford has not said which calibrations are coming, which model year gets them or whether current owners get them, there is nothing concrete to wait for. After the race, watch for three items: a published power figure, a named list of calibrations and any Ford Racing Parts items tied to them.
For me, this is the strongest reason to watch the race. Because Ford says the desert work feeds production, the results preview tuning you might buy later. I have rented a Bronco Badlands more than once for Big Bear camping trips, so I am watching where Ford takes this platform.
Also, you cannot buy the race truck. Ford announced no customer version, parts kit or price. The street truck lists at a base price of $79,995 before destination for the 2026 model, according to our report on Bronco Raptor prices. Check Ford’s configurator for current pricing.
Baja Designs, which Ford lists on the race truck, sells its lights to the public, so lighting is one piece of this build you shop for today. However, Ford did not name the Baja Designs models it fitted. The S2 Sport amber pair and the XL-R Sport pair below are two pod styles from the same brand. They are not the same units.
Baja Designs lighting pods
Final Thoughts
This reveal is about the Bronco’s past as much as its future. Ford says the Bronco is the only production 4×4 to win the Baja 1000. The company now sends a Raptor back to Baja. Personally, I like seeing a factory team test a truck where the nameplate has history.
However, the gaps set the limit. Ford gave us a hardware list and a promise about production calibrations. It gave no power number, no parts and no price. Therefore, treat the race truck as a preview, not a buying guide. For the bigger picture, read our piece on the Ford Raptor lineup and where Ford Racing wants to take it.
Watch the Baja 1000 from November 9, and see how the truck holds up on the long desert stretches. Because Ford says its race work feeds production Raptors, the results deserve your attention.
FAQ
Is the Bronco Raptor race truck for sale?
No. Ford revealed it as a race entry for the Baja 1000 and announced no customer version, parts kit or price. The street Bronco Raptor is the model you order from a dealer.
Who drives the Bronco Raptor race truck at the Baja 1000?
Brad Lovell, Loren Healy and Vaughn Gittin Jr. share the driving. Also, Ford announced the lineup in its reveal coverage from Raptor Rally, October 16 to 17, 2026.
When is the 2026 Baja 1000?
The SCORE Baja 1000 runs November 9 to 15, 2026, according to Ford Racing. Its course is a 964.96-mile loop through Baja California Sur, starting and finishing in San José del Cabo.
What engine does the Ford Baja race entry use?
It uses the twin-turbocharged 3.0L EcoBoost V6 from the production Bronco Raptor. However, Ford has not released a power figure for the race version.
How is the race truck different from the street Bronco Raptor?
Ford added improved cooling and air induction, a revised suspension, more dust filtration and a carbon fiber roof. The race truck also gets a roll cage, Method Race Wheels, Baja Designs lighting and 37-inch BFGoodrich KDR3 racing tires. Ford lists the twin-turbocharged 3.0L EcoBoost V6 and Fox live-valve shocks as well.