NWM FIA T1 Ford Rangers available for rental for the 2016 Dakar and 2016 Cross Country Season

Two latest specification NWM Ford Rangers built to 2016 FIA T1 regulations, which finished the 2015 Sertões Rally in second and third overall after a 2900km adventure, are available for rental and ready to race the 2016 Dakar. They will consequently be available to rent after the Dakar Rally for the 2016 Cross Country Season.
Both cars are designed and built in 2015 by South Africa’s top constructor Neil Woolridge Motorsport. The South African based operation, have run factory backed cars since 2013 in the local championship and in the Dakar. Competitors interested in renting the cars are asked to contact the X Rally Team in Brazil or NWM (contacts below).

With a 350 hp-powered 5.0 litre Ford Mustang V8 engine, and a top speed of 185km/h the yellow livery Vedacit cars won three of the seven stages, travelling from Goiânia to Foz do Iguaçu.

The Ford Rangers carry the most recent updates and came to Brazil as brand-new machines. According to Neil Woolridge, the car lost almost 200 kg of weight. The team worked on weight distribution and a lower center of gravity, which made the car easier to drive and more friendly to work on for the technicians. The 5.0-litre Ford Mustang V8 engine is mounted further back now, behind the front axle. NWM also worked on a new exhaust system, better engine cooling, improved differentials and changed the management system to MOTEC.

The results are a weight distribution of 50-50 front and rear axle, a friendly car to handle (for driver and mechanics), and an increased endurance capability for all the drivetrain components on the car. The braking power of the car is also one of its features, with air cooled Brembo front brakes and water-cooled Brembo rear brakes. "Everything was better in the car, and the driving was so much smoother and friendlier this year. It is like the car is requiring you to push even more", said Cristian.

The cars are run in Brazil by X Rally Team and driven by the Baumgart brothers Cristian and Marcos. Competing among the T1 FIA cars in the Sertões, the Ford Rangers were one of the highlights of the event. The NWM-built prototypes were the best cars on the marathon stages (903km) with two 1-2 finishes without a single problem, showing great reliability. "We just checked tyre pressures and the car was ready to go again", stated Cristian Baumgart, who won three of seven days of the rally.

"The NWM Cross Country Ford Ranger has proved itself throughout the world. In South Africa our Ford Ranger is arguably one of the best in our championship, and we could showcase it in Brazil once again, where both of the Ford Rangers proved themselves capable of winning the rally", stated Neil Woolridge.

"It is a great piece of engineering. We drove on the limit and it was as if the car was relishing the action and punishment. We finished each stage physically exhausted, but the Ford Ranger Dakar V8 4x4 handled everything perfectly and was ready to go all over again", said Marcos Baumgart.

Teams and drivers interested in running an NWM Ford Ranger at the next Dakar Rally must contact the teams for more details; - e-mail to Beco Andreotti (becoandreotti@uol.com.br) and/or Neil Woolridge (nwm@mweb.co.za).

Vehicle Specifications
NWM FORD RANGER DAKAR V8 4X4
Engine: 5.0 litre Ford Mustang V8
Power: 350 hp
Max. Speed: 190 km/h
Gearbox: SADEV 6-speed sequential gearbox
Drivetrain: Neil Woolridge Motorsport, limited slip differential front and rear
Clutch: AP
Management System: MOTEC
Dampers: BOS
Wheels: Evo Corse
Brakes: Brembo air cooled calipers front, Brembo water cooled calipers rear
Fuel Cell: 520 L
Fuel: Avgas
Air Conditioned Cooled Cabin