Ford first started competing in the King of the Hammers with its Bronco-based 4600 entry back in 2021.
Since that time, the Blue Oval has established the Bronco SUV as an authoritative off-road performance threat. Along with taking first place in the 4600 class over four consecutive years, it also swept the top three podium positions in the category for three years in a row.
The Bronco 4600 stays close to stock to test real-world durability.Ford Racing
With the 2026 King of the Hammers currently underway, Ford is returning once again to cement its dominance. In doing so, the automaker is proving just how good the stock Bronco is.
A test of production-based vehicles
That’s because the 4600 class isn’t about campaigning insane purpose-built race rigs. Rather, as the “Everyman Challenge,” it’s intended to demonstrate the capabilities of largely production-based vehicles.
Ford is bringing five Bronco Raptor 4600 vehicles to this year’s King of the Hammers.Ford Racing
In keeping with Ultra4 regulations, this means that there are strict criteria regarding what teams are allowed to modify. Vehicles must retain their factory architecture with the stock engine and transmission, and suspension and performance modifications are limited along with a max tire size of 35 inches.
Moreover, this year’s entry is all the more closely tied to the Broncos that you can buy off the lot because Ford is campaigning the SUV under the Bronco Raptor banner. As Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Racing, puts it, “Bronco Raptor was born from Ultra4 inspiration, and the Bronco Raptor 4600 brings that relationship full circle.”
To that end, while the Blue Oval may be ready to race its Bronco Raptor 4600 at the King of the Hammers this year, it’s far from finished developing the SUV. According to Ford, “competition serves as both a proving ground and a development tool, driving real-world learning that helps inform future customer vehicle development.”
The 4600 class restricts modifications and limits tire sizes to 35 inches.Ford Racing
It’s an ideal environment to find the limits of off-road capability. For even though the 4600 class is made up of mostly stock vehicles, the King of the Hammers course covers over over 100 miles of obstacles that include rock gardens, sand dunes and even mud.
As such, Ford says that it’s “about seeing how close production-based Broncos can stay to their roots when the environment strips away comfort and predictability,” as “this is where the bridge between our customers and our racing becomes unmistakable.”
With factory engines and transmissions, it’s as much a proving ground as it is a race.Ford Racing
A unified Raptor performance front
While the 4600 class will be the most relevant to those with Broncos of their own, Ford has much more planned for the 2026 King of the Hammers. This year’s effort makes for the brand’s most committed campaign yet.
As such, alongside the 4600, Ford will be fielding its two-time Baja-winning Bronco Raptor as part of the Desert Challenge. With Loren Healey at the wheel, the rig has already proven itself in Mexico, but Ford says that the differences in terrain will result in “more lessons learned at speed, over distance and under sustained punishment.”
Ford’s success in the 4600 class is authoritative, as it has four first places finishes in just as many years.Ford Racing
And that’s not all. To ensure that it’s well-represented this year at the King of the Hammers, the Blue Oval also entered the Unlimited 4400 class as well.
Compared to the production-based 4600 entrant, it’s a markedly wilder beast. Beyond a fully custom tubular chassis with monstrous off-road tires and long-travel shocks, it also brings a tuned engine with a bespoke driveline and a race-prepped cabin with FIA-certified Recaro shells.
As a purpose-built vehicle for the hardest lines in Johnson Valley can throw at you, Ford says the 4400 class vehicles are “where ideas are stress-tested until only the ones that work remain.”
Now racing under the Bronco Raptor banner, the 4600 entries represent a unified Ford Performance campaign.Ford Racing
Action incoming
If you’d like to catch Ford’s Bronco Raptors at this year’s King of the Hammers, the 4400 class competes on Friday, February 6th. There will be five different entries this year.
The Race of Kings will take place during the final day of the King of the Hammers on Saturday, February 7th.
About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.
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