•    After a successful Baja 1000 finish, the production-based F150 SVT Raptor R will run in all five points races to continue extreme durability testing of production components.
•    Drivers Rob MacCachren and Steve Olliges will pilot the Raptor R providing Ford access to development and testing data.

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 5, 2009 – Ford Racing and Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) announced today that the F150 SVT Raptor R, the same truck that finished third in class at the 41st SCORE Tecate Baja 1000, will run in the 2009 "Best In The Desert" race series. The truck will be driven by veteran Ford truck racers and former “Rough Riders” Rob MacCachren and Steve Olliges. The privately funded team will run all five points races for 2009 in the Raptor R to continue testing the durability of the 2010 F150 SVT Raptor and its production components.
Prepared for racing in off-road endurance events, the F150 SVT Raptor R demonstrates the toughness and durability built into every F150 by using stock components, including the stock fully boxed frame that delivers class-leading towing and hauling in the F150. The race truck is powered by a specially modified and calibrated 500 horsepower version of the production 6.2-liter V-8 engine and is mounted to a production-spec six-speed automatic F150 transmission.
“This is a great opportunity for everyone involved in the Raptor program to get more real-time data on how the truck performs in the most extreme conditions,” stated Cliff Irey, Manager of truck motorsports for Ford Racing Technology. “We need to push the truck harder than we'd ever expect our customers would to ensure that the production F150 SVT Raptor is the ultimate factory-available high-speed off-road truck.”
Drivers Rob MacCachren and Steve Olliges each have impressive racing resumes, both winning numerous off-roading championships. MacCachren has won over 100 events and 15 championships in his career to date. Olliges has 30 class wins as well as seven off-road championships. Both drivers have also won their respective classes in the prestigious Baja 1000 during their careers.....

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