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)

T1+ Specification

• 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.