The Ford Raptor T1+ was created for rally-raid races such as the Dakar Rally, but in mid-August, this purpose-built off-road racer will take on the legendary Casey Folks Vegas to Reno. This will be the first time for the Raptor T1+ to compete in North America and it will also be the first time that the Vegas-to-Reno rally race will be run in the reverse direction, as the organizers look to make the 30th anniversary of the event truly unique.
Meet the Ford Raptor T1+
As you can likely tell from the images here, the Ford Raptor T1+ is not based on the Ford F-150 Raptor. Instead, it is a custom-built project between Ford Racing and M-Sport to create a machine that would compete at the highest level of World Rally-Raid Championship and the Dakar Rally. The Raptor T1+ begins with a T45 steel spaceframe chassis fitted with an advanced long-travel suspension system. The front and rear independent double-wishbone setup features Fox three-way adjustable coilovers and four-way adjustable external bypass dampers with remote reservoirs. When coupled with the 37-inch tires, this Ford Racing machine offers almost 16 inches of ground clearance and an approach angle of over 70 degrees.
Next, the Raptor T1+ gets its power from a Ford Coyote 5.0-based V8 engine while a custom carbon fiber body provides protection and aerodynamic properties. Of course, under that carbon fiber body is an advanced safety cage, a couple of race seats, and race communication electronics. Stopping power is provided by a gigantic brake setup, with four 355-millimeter brake discs under six-piston monoblock calipers.
Raptor T1+ Comes to America
Overseas, the Ford Raptor T1+ is piloted by elite drivers such as Carlos Sainz Sr., Nani Roma, Mattias Ekström, and Mitch Guthrie, and the program has had a great deal of success. At the 2025 Dakar Rally, Mattias Ekström finished third in the Ultimate class and Mitch Guthrie finished fifth. Although it has done well on other continents, this Ford Racing product has never raced in North America, but that will change next month. The 30th Casey Folks Vegas to Reno race will be the U.S. debut of the Raptor T1+, piloted by Mitch Guthrie Jr. and co-driven by Kellon Walch.
“We are excited to bring the Ford Raptor T1+ to Vegas to Reno and help connect the worlds of rally-raid racing and American desert racing,” said Kristen Goslawski, North American Off-Road Motorsports Supervisor, Ford Racing. “Ford competes off-road on some of the most challenging terrain around the world, and we welcome opportunities to showcase our vehicles across different racing disciplines. Vegas to Reno is one of the most iconic desert races in North America, and it will be exciting to see the Ford Raptor T1+ take on this legendary challenge and demonstrate its capabilities in a completely new environment.”
Casey Folks Vegas to Reno – Going Backwards to Celebrate 30 Years
The Casey Folks Vegas to Reno – “The Other Way,” covers more than 500 miles across the Nevada desert, making it the longest off-road race in the United States. 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the race and to celebrate the event’s birthday the organizers have decided to run the race backwards. Rather than starting in Las Vegas and finishing in Reno, the teams will start in Reno (actually in Dayton, Nevada) and race to Vegas (actually Crystal, Nevada).
“Having the Ford Raptor T1+ come over and race with us is an incredible opportunity to connect the world of rally-raid racing with American desert racing,” said Matt Martelli, CEO of Unlimited Off-Road Racing. “The technologies, vehicles, and talent competing on the global stage continue to push the sport forward, and bringing a vehicle of this caliber to Vegas to Reno highlights the worldwide appeal of off-road racing. It’s something that is long overdue, and we hope this is just the beginning of welcoming more international teams and entries to compete in America’s premier desert races in the years ahead.”
For the Ford Raptor T1+, the Casey Folks Vegas to Reno will be its longest continuous competitive stage it has faced, so in a way, it will be the toughest challenge for this unique racing machine.
2026 Casey Folks Vegas to Reno Event Schedule
The event actually begins on August 12 with qualifying for all classes and on August 13 at 9 a.m., the Reno Off-Road Festival officially kicks off the festivities at the J Resort in Downtown Reno. That festival runs until 6 p.m. for attendees while racers go through technical inspection starting at noon. Early on the morning of August 14, the teams will set out from the starting line in Dayton, with the first class – Motorcycle / Quad – hitting the trails at 5:45 a.m. Unlimited then starts at 10 a.m. and Limited starts at noon. During the course of the 500-mile race, there are eleven pit stop locations for the teams to address any issues that occur along the way. Last year’s leaders finished the event in a little over eight hours while the majority of the field finished within ~12 hours.
Click here for a look at the full schedule of events.
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