This new Ford Ranger race truck will make you wish you were a rally racing driver!
The Ford Ranger headed to America in or around 2019 will likely be based on similar architecture to the Ranger currently sold outside of the US. Some American Ford truck fans are concerned about this “foreign” Ranger not being tough enough for the US market, but this week’s “Truckin’ Fast Wednesday” video should put such concerns to rest.
This video by wwwmaxxsportpl features the Ford Ranger race truck of a German motorsports team called “South Racing.” The team is racing at the 2017 Baja Carpathia rally race in Poland, and to be fair, the Ranger isn’t really “racing” but more like showing off its dominance upon the field of contenders.
Critics will point out that this race truck is a far cry from the production Ranger sold in South America, Europe and Australia, but like any other off-road race truck – this machine is production based. The biggest difference, of course, is the all-aluminum 5.0L V8 race engine tucked under the hood. There is also an aftermarket race-ready suspension, a lightweight body, and all of the required safety bits inside and out. But, again, the basis of this vehicle is a new Ford Ranger 4×4 Double Cab.
The 5.0L V8 makes for an excellent soundtrack, so crank up your speakers and enjoy!
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
