Ford Will Attack King of the Hammers with New Bronco Raptor 4600
Ford Racing has introduced the Bronco Raptor 4600, a race vehicle that will compete in the Ultra4 stock-based class at King of the Hammers in Johnson Valley, California. The event combines desert racing with rock crawling and is known for its demanding terrain.
Ford will now run its Ultra4 4600-class entries under the Bronco Raptor 4600 name, a change meant to reflect the connection between the race vehicles and the production Bronco Raptor. The update also aligns Ford’s stock-class racing efforts with the off-road program that helped shape the road-going model.
The 4600 class is one of several in Ultra4 competition, but it remains closely tied to production vehicles. Sometimes referred to as the “Every Man Challenge,” the class requires competitors to retain factory architecture and follow strict limits on suspension and performance upgrades. As a result, success tends to depend on durability, reliability, and driver judgment across mixed terrain.
According to Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Racing, the program is intended to strengthen the link between the company’s racing efforts and its production vehicles while consolidating its motorsports activities under the Raptor name.
The production Bronco Raptor was engineered to handle a range of off-road conditions, including high-speed desert driving and technical rock sections. The race program follows a similar approach but operates within class rules that include a maximum tire size of 35 inches and the use of production-based components. Development work is expected to focus largely on suspension tuning, driveline reliability, and component longevity.
Ford says the Bronco Raptor 4600 will also serve as part of a broader effort to connect its off-road racing programs under a shared identity. The company currently competes in Ultra4 in North America along with other desert and rally raid events.
Five Bronco Raptor 4600 vehicles are scheduled to compete in the 2026 King of the Hammers “Every Man Challenge.”
This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.
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