Monday 30th April 2018

Raptor at the Nurburgring: Time For Tea?

Forget going sub-seven, this is a lap attempt we can all get behind

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If we were to tell you that Ford had sent one of its vehicles around the Nordschleife, a performance-orientated machine equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6, your mind would, of course, turn to the GT.

This is because you are a logical and rational person. The Ford Raptor is neither logical nor rational, though, its mere existence being testament to the fact that designers and buyers alike can still make decisions with hearts over minds. And thank goodness for that, because it has allowed us the sight of a 2,630kg, 450hp truck hanging its bed out around some of the Nurburgring's most famous twists and turns.

It all seems rather more controlled than you might expect, credit to driver Vaughn Gittin Jr. for that, though it's no less extraordinary a sight for it. Some slightly longer shots would be appreciated, but we'll take what we can get. Apparently the Focus RS isn't the only Ford that needs a drift mode...

[Leonardo101]

That beast is awesome Well Done ford for making it

[Burwood]

8 mins 40?

[unsprung]

Surely the way for Raptor to complete the Nurburgring is to exit the bitumen half way round -- and travel straight to the finish line via the forested and hilly middle!

[The Hypno-Toad]

Interesting video but "professional funhaver,"?

fk. Right. Off.

[RB Will]

The question is. Was it quicker than the Ram with a cow in the back?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrSKIEGcmJU

[anonymous-user]

Has it really got that little grip, or have they pumped the rear tyres up to 23 bar to get it to go sideways at just what looks to be about 7 and 3/4 miles per hour?

[irocfan]

RB Will said:

The question is. Was it quicker than the Ram with a cow in the back?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrSKIEGcmJU

brilliant - that Ram was really mooving

[robm3]

Maybe I'm getting old but I'm starting to hate the repetitive 2 second cutaway shots.

Just hold on the action for at least 5 seconds perhaps....

Thank god they didn't use 'shaky cam' (hand held) for the panning and eye level shots

My 2/10 rant over. Nice truck but I'd want a V8

[C7 JFW]

'Drifts Ford Raptor on Nurburgring', translates in promotional video to 4 corners.

2/10 Try harder Ford.

[xcentric]

truck seems to have a dent next to the rear light on right hand side - be fun to see how it got that. (Could be the light, of course). As for the video - "year one film school student makes 'trendy' video for major car company"

[WCZ]

it's cool that the guys who patrol the area outside Area51 drive these

[BarbaricAvatar]

Oh, i clicked on the title expecting this.

[ZX10R NIN]

That looked like fun.

[Dyl]

Max_Torque said:

Has it really got that little grip, or have they pumped the rear tyres up to 23 bar to get it to go sideways at just what looks to be about 7 and 3/4 miles per hour?

Probably the result of off-road biased tyres, no weight over the rear end, a wet surface or the stinking great turbocharged V6 under the bonnet. Or a combination of all 4 and a lack of fear in the driver!