Ford Thailand has entered two Ranger Raptor pickup trucks to race in the grueling Asia Cross Country Rally 2024 from Surat Thani to Kanchanaburi.
The two Raptors are managed by the Feeliq Innovation Motorsport team, currently competing in the event from August 12-17.
Ford and Feeliq Innovation Motorsport have jointly developed the vehicles to race in the T2A or Production Asia class, designated for Asian factory-produced vehicles. The team is spearheaded by Michael Freeman, a seasoned circuit racing team director, and Chaiya Chommalee, an accomplished rally navigator. The duo, who previously competed together last year, will be at the helm of the Ford Ranger Raptor #118 in this event.
The other Ranger Raptor #131 is driven by former national rally champion Wuttichai Sorndaeng, partnering with navigator Charin Harnsungnoen, who brings over three decades of engineering capability and racing experience, forming a formidable duo for the challenging race, comprised of both on and off-road stages.
“This year, we come with determination and experiences from last year,” said Michael Freeman. “We are confident that the performance of the two Ford Ranger Raptors and the performance of our racers will enable Ford and Feeliq Innovation Motorsport team to excel in this year’s challenging routes.”
According to Ford Thailand, the 210-horsepower Ranger Raptor diesel turbo race vehicles have been developed to be tougher than ever, focusing on improved traction control, durability and responsiveness on rugged terrains. The racing team and engineers from Ford Thailand Manufacturing (FTM) have also contributed their outstanding expertise in the vehicle development process, in which the knowledge and skills from the Ford Performance team being transferred.
The team is also boosted in terms of spare parts and maintenance with professional technicians and Ford Mobile Service Vehicle providing services and ensure that both race vehicles overcome all challenging terrains throughout the race.
“Entering the Asia Cross Country Rally 2024 for the second year with two Ford Ranger Raptors demonstrates our commitment to developing motorsport potential and our confidence in the performance of Ford’s tough pickup trucks,” said Ratthakarn Jutasen, managing director, Ford Thailand. “Moreover, this is a great opportunity for us to showcase the superior durability and high performance of Ford Ranger Raptor to Ford customers as well as rally and off-road fans.”
