Straddling through the surroundings of the Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM) teams workshop in Pietermaritzburg, ones mind cannot help but boggle at the sight of the relative modesty of a facility that has run Fords local Rally-Raid off-road ambitions for 23 years.
Tucked away behind an off-road accessories showroom located just off one of the busiest roads in town, the double storey building not only assembles Rangers for the local series, but for international championships as well in the form of a customer programme.
Running to the top-spec FIA T1+ regulations since 2023, the factory supported Rangers, crewed by Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer, and Lance Woolridge and Kenny Gilbert, showcased its latest generation in the run-up to the start of this years championship in April.
Where it all startedStyled to resemble the current Ranger Raptor, the Ranger T1+ is an altogether different animal aimed squarely at what has always been NWMs main target, the Dakar Rally.
Central to the organisation, multiple champion, owner and former driver Neil Wooldridge makes no excuses about the significance of the Dakar for the NWM outfit.
