Top 5 Things to Know About the NWM Ford RangerTop 5 Things to Know About the NWM Ford Ranger 1. Engine: The NWM Ranger uses a 3.5-liter turbocharged petrol V6 producing 264kW and 600Nm of torque, as per FIA regulations. 2. Custom-Made Shell: The chassis is constructed from 150m of chromoly tubing, reinforced with carbon fiber body panels, doors, and passenger cell for strength and lightness. 3. Suspension: Each wheel is supported by a single 76mm shock with 350mm of travel, providing exceptional handling on rough terrain. 4. Fuel Capacity: The NWM Ranger boasts a massive 480-liter fuel cell for long-distance events. 5. Cooling System: A comprehensive cooling system keeps the engine, gearbox, differentials, and cabin temperature-controlled in extreme conditions.
Built by Queensland’s Neil Woolridge Motorsport, the NWM Ranger competes in the South African Rally Raid Championship and other events around the world. Pietermaritzburg is where it’s at.
NWM has an illustrious history of success in off-road championships, including a third place in the T1 class with a Mitsubishi Pajero Evo at the 1999 Dakar Rally for founder and owner Neil Woolridge, a Super Production title with a Ranger in 2006, a promising 22nd overall in the 2014 Dakar Rally with a NWM Ranger driven by Argentinian duo Lucio Alvarez and Ronnie Graue, and back-to-back Class T SARRC titles for Lance Wooldridge and co-driver Ward Huxtable in 2018 and 2019 with a V8 Ranger.
The same locally built NWM Ranger has won events around the world, including Australia, Brazil, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Portugal and Spain. In 2023, the team claimed another championship win in South Africa under the new T1+ rules.
It’s ALMOST out of stock
Well, the engine is. Unlike the top-of-the-range Ranger Raptor bakkie, which has a 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol V6 producing 292kW and 583Nm of torque, the NWM Ranger uses the same 3.5-litre turbocharged petrol V6 found in the North American-only F150 Raptor. Per FIA rules for the Ultimate class of rally raid vehicles, peak power is 264kW and peak torque 600Nm, although the torque curve is carefully tuned via a Motec management system.
Fully custom made shell
There is 150m of chromoly tubing used throughout the NWM Ranger to make the chassis as strong as possible, along with 1.8km of wiring, 15kg of welding rods and 10kg of chassis paint. All of these extra components add up to a lot of weight, the enemy of vehicle performance, but there is also 110 square metres of carbon fibre used to make up the body panels, doors and passenger cell. As a result, the NWM Ranger meets the FIA requirement of a minimum of 2010kg for this class.
Photo: Supplied.
It’s all in the suspension
Each wheel is supported by a single 76mm shock designed specifically for the NWM Ranger by BOS Suspension, offering 350mm of travel. This, along with the 37-inch tyres, ensures the Ranger can tackle rough terrain at high speed. The suspension setup is similar to those previously used on NWM’s race Rangers, but the 2024 Ranger’s damper cooling efficiency ensures greater consistency over the course of a race weekend. Each wheel and tyre combination weighs in at a hefty 48kg, and the NWM Ranger also carries two full-size spare tyres.
Nearly half a ton of fuel
Rally Raid events require the driver, navigator and car to travel long distances on timed stages, refuelling only on designated liaison stages. The NWM Ranger features a 480-litre fuel cell made by UK-based Aero Tec Laboratories, the same company that supplied fuel tanks to Formula 1 teams.
Next level cooling
Because rally raid events take place in tough conditions, such as the two-week Dakar Rally that takes place in the Saudi Arabian desert, the NWM Ranger is equipped with air conditioning to combat the temperatures in the cabin that can reach up to 50°C. This not only helps the driver and navigator, but also keeps the electronics on board at operating temperature. There are also 10 coolers to keep the engine, gearbox and differentials working optimally.
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