Verstappen and Perez Off-Road in Texas
As the 2023 F1 season comes to a close, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez’s historic 1-2 positions have left them as the undisputed rulers of the road. Yet one cannot help but wonder if Red Bull Racing’s drivers may be able to display their prowess in car control outside of high speed racetracks?
Ford Performance summoned two RB F1 drivers to test-drive a Ford Bronco Raptor on rugged terrain during the Bronco Off-Roadeo in Texas. With Ford joining forces with Red Bull Racing to be their engine supplier from 2021 onwards, we can be certain that more projects will arise between them, and this is just the start.
Two RPM drivers undertook three hurdles in a top-of-the-line Bronco. The foremost was the Texas Two Step, involving the SUV scaling the gigantic stones. Establishing traction during the climb were the 37-inch all-terrain tires mounted on 17-inch alloy rims, associated with an 4×4 powertrain coupled with the GOAT (Go Anywhere On Tracks) selector.
The next challenge to be faced was the Red Bull Rings, with drivers needing to stack large Red Bull cans in a pyramid. Power was not going to be an issue as it simply required driving back and forth to finish the task, in addition to the Bronco Raptor’s 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 bursting with strength: 418 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque if running on premium fuel.
The concluding challenge was to tackle the Roadrunner, where the SUV had to run a number of laps around the 1.3-mile-long track which sported an impressive 30 turns. Max and Checo were fairly accustomed with this route, apart from the road’s inadequate grip and the SUV’s 13.1-inch clearance off the ground. To no one’s surprise, Verstappen and Perez managed the job successfully with the utmost ease.
We anticipate even more enjoyable experiences between Red Bull and Ford in the upcoming years, however the partnership won’t be limited to that. Red Bull Racing is also aiding the Blue Oval company in creating a “strategically important EV”, which is predicted to be a first-rate production electric car.
