Clarios, the company behind OPTIMA Batteries, is partnering with Ford Performance for the Dakar Rally, which runs through Jan. 17, and future rally races to help test battery system performance.
Collaborating with the Ford Performance team, OPTIMA Batteries has joined the grueling off-road races to back a four-vehicle racing effort driven by champions including Carlos Sainz Sr., Nani Roma, Mattias Ekstrom and Mitch Guthrie Jr.
Four Ford Raptor T1+ vehicles are racing in the Ultimate T1+ category at the Dakar Rally and will compete at other rally-raid competitions featuring an OPTIMA Batteries signature rocker panel integrated into the Ford Performance livery. They will be supported by the OPTIMA Batteries team.
The decision to partner with Ford Performance was driven by Clarios and OPTIMA Batteries’ continued efforts to push their battery systems to the limit, officials noted in a press release announcing the partnership. Using motorsports racing efforts as the highest level of research and field testing, the companies can test products in grueling terrain, inclement weather and high-stress scenarios.
“When you take on a challenge the size of Dakar, everything needs to be right,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance. “OPTIMA has a long tradition of building great products that meet demanding conditions.”
With the 14-day, 4,784-mile race already underway, the teams at Clarios and OPTIMA Batteries are looking forward to the conclusion and ultimate shakedown of the vehicles to see how their products performed.
“Very few other races have the lengthy run-time, variety of terrain and sheer adversity that comes with the Dakar Rally,” said Cam Douglass, OPTIMA Batteries director of marketing. “When OPTIMA Batteries and Clarios can compete at this level alongside Ford Performance, we can have confidence in the products we provide to our daily drivers and recreational fun-haver community.”
