Images by Jason Hutter
The spirit of Baja is calling, and Ford is once again answering in a way that should get every Bronco owner’s attention. For the 2026 running of the NORRA Mexican 1000, Ford is doubling down on its commitment to real-world testing by entering a stock 2026 Badlands Sasquatch Bronco into one of the most demanding off-road endurance events in North America.
This isn’t a highly modified race truck. It’s a near showroom Bronco, thrown into thousands of miles of Baja punishment, and expected to survive.
A Quick Look Back: What Makes NORRA Special
The National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA) revived the Mexican 1000 to capture the original spirit of Baja racing, less about outright speed, more about endurance, navigation, and the experience of crossing the peninsula.
Unlike the all-out sprint format of modern desert racing, NORRA is a rally-style, stage-based event:
• Competitors run point-to-point stages each day
• Timing sections are combined with transit (liaison) sections
• Vehicles range from vintage race trucks to modern 4x4s
• Finishing, especially in these vintage and stock classes is celebrated
It’s part competition, part adventure, and entirely Baja. We were able to be at the finish line in Cabo last year to see the Bronco cross the line, and it was really incredible, not only to see how intact the Bronco was, but to feel the A/C blowing and realize this is a stock truck.
2026 Race Format: A Peninsula-Spanning Challenge
The 2026 edition of the NORRA Mexican 1000 continues its legendary Ensenada-to-San José del Cabo route, covering roughly 1,200–1,400 miles over multiple days. Stage One begins Saturday, May 2nd and covers desert terrain between Ensenada and San Felipe. Each subsequent day moves the race vehicles down the peninsula towards the finish in Cabo on Thursday, May 7th.
It’s not just about going fast, it’s about managing the vehicle, the terrain, and the long haul. Each evening, the truck can be prepped and repaired, if needed, for the next day’s stage.
Ford’s Strategy: Testing the Bronco Where It Matters
Ford has used Baja as a testing ground for several years, and it’s great to see that the new 2026 Bronco is continuing that tradition. Entering a stock Bronco Badlands Sasquatch into NORRA highlights something Bronco owners already believe: these vehicles are engineered for real-world punishment, not just marketing brochures.
Why Baja? Because Baja exposes everything, including sustained high temperatures and engine load, endless washboard and whoops to test suspension, sharp rock sections and deep sand and silt beds. Those of us who have visited and driven portions of the course in Baja understand and can appreciate just how challenging the terrain is.
For Ford engineers, events like NORRA provide extreme durability validation that no proving ground can fully replicate. It’s one thing to test components in isolation, it’s another to run them flat-out for days across Baja.
Meet the Team Behind Bronco #725
Ford isn’t handing over the vehicle to a professional race team. The Bronco (#725) is being piloted by a team that blends engineering expertise with real-world racing experience:
Primary Driver: Jamie Groves, Ford Engineer
Co-Driver: Seth Goslawski, Ford Engineer
Additional Drivers: Jason Hutter & Paul Blangsted
This isn’t just a race effort; it’s an engineering mission. Having engineers behind the wheel means real-time feedback under the harshest conditions imaginable.
A Stacked Class: Showroom Stock Late Model
The Bronco is entered as #725 in the Showroom Stock Late Model class, and it won’t have an easy path.
Sharing the class are multiple Ford entries, including:
• A 2010 F-150 Raptor
• A 2024 Ranger Raptor driven by Brad Lovell, alongside his son Adam Lovell and brother Roger Lovell, #773 for Ford Racing
When asked about competing for Ford Racing at NORRA, Brad Lovell stated, “I want to do the epic races that count, and clearly the NORRA’s Baja 6 Day Rally is one that counts, it’s a chance to test our equipment and show what Ford’s Race to Road program is all about. We race in Showroom Stock, with a truck close to the Ranger Raptor customers can find in a Ford dealership. We are Baja-proving vehicles over 1,400 miles.”
This creates a fascinating dynamic with the same Ford brand over different platforms and different eras from a GEN 1 Raptor to the newest Bronco technology. In other words, this class isn’t just about surviving Baja, but it’s also about seeing which platform performs best under identical punishment.
Why This Matters for Bronco Owners
For owners and enthusiasts, this effort goes beyond racing headlines. It reinforces that the Bronco Badlands is Baja proved, factory engineering decisions are being validated in the harshest environment possible with repeated and prolonged exposure through real world abuse, not just lab testing. And, perhaps most importantly, it shows that the same vehicle sitting in your driveway shares DNA with one tackling the full length of Baja.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 NORRA Mexican 1000 isn’t just another race, it’s a rolling test lab, a proving ground, and a celebration of off-road culture. With Bronco #725, Ford is putting its reputation on the line in the most authentic way possible: by racing a stock vehicle across one of the toughest landscapes in the world. And in a class filled with Raptors and seasoned competitors, one thing is certain, this won’t just be a test of machinery. It’ll be a test of what the Bronco is truly made of.
Stay tuned for more coverage and updates from Baja. If you’d like to follow the event, the NORRA youtube page has live daily racing information and action.
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