Team Ford Racing has confirmed that it will enter two South African-made Ford Rangers in the 2014 Dakar Rally, which will run from January 5 to 18 in South America.

The purpose-built Ford Rangers are being prepared by Pietermaritzburg-based Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM), with assistance from Ford’s global product development group, while logistics will be handled by Germany-based company South Racing.

“We are extremely proud to be sending these South African-built Rangers to the 2014 Dakar,” says Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa president and CEO Jeff Nemeth.

“The Dakar is a truly international showcase of off-road vehicles,” Ford group VP and Asia-Pacific president Dave Schoch adds.

One of the two Dakar Ford Rangers is already complete and will start testing this month. The second is still under construction, with planned completion at the end of October.

The vehicles and their drivers will be supported by 24 full-time employees.

“A complex jigging system was used in the manufacturing process to ensure that each part is built as per the design in order to achieve the perfect fit on every vehicle built,” explains team manager Neil Woolridge.

“Although the two new Rangers are locally built, we received tremendous support from our global counterparts,” he adds.

The logistics and European operations are being managed by South Racing, based near Frankfurt, Germany.

South Racing is owned and managed by Scott Abraham, whose father, Arthur, was a stalwart of South African motorsport for several decades.

Abraham has been based in Europe for the past ten years, during which time he has worked as team manager for the X-raid BMW/Mini and Overdrive Toyota rally teams.

He was integral to the launch of the Toyota Dakar project and has a wealth of knowledge and experience to guide the Ranger team.

South Racing will supply the team’s logistics needs, including MAN 6 × 6 service trucks, MAN T4 race trucks and service equipment.

“The combination of NWM and South Racing will ensure that the project has the necessary expertise and depth to be able to deliver the results,” says Abraham.

Lucio Alvarez and Ronnie Graue have been confirmed as the first Ranger driver crew.

In their first outing in the Dakar Rally in 2011, they finished seventeenth, moving up to fifth spot in 2012. In 2013, they were lying third overall, before mechanical problems saw them wrap up the rally in tenth position.

The second Ford Ranger will be crewed by 2011 South African Cross Country winners Chris Visser and navigator Japie Badenhorst.

This pair is currently participating in the 2013 Donaldson South Africa National Cross Country Championship.

This will be their first time competing at the Dakar Rally.

The 8 500 km rally will start in Rosario, Argentina, and finish 13 stages later in Valparaiso, Chile.

This year, the Dakar Rally is continuing its exploration of the Andes region by incorporating a first-time visit to Bolivia.