The Forza Horizon Rescue Safari is one of the most renowned safety teams in all of motorsports; its sheer size allows it to be present at multiple racing events a day, sometimes at multiple races at the same time. Their weapon of choice? The 2017 Ford SVT F-150 Raptor Horizon Rescue Safari Edition.
Custom-tuned by Ford’s Special Vehicle Team, the Raptor Safari Edition (also known colloquially as the ‘Rescue Raptor’) packs 918 horsepower in its 5.7-liter twin-turbo V8, pumping those ponies to all four wheels by way of a custom Hewland gearbox specially made for the many rigorous situations the Raptor Safari Edition finds itself in daily. For tires, the Raptor Safari Edition is shod in 345/65R17 BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 tires, providing traction on any surface from pavement to riverbeds.
On the front of the truck is a Warn 16.5ti winch system, rated for up to 16,500 pounds of force – usually more than enough to free stuck cars on rally stages. In the back, we find a mount for a spare tire (all entrants are required to provide at least one spare tire in case their car has a flat and cannot continue without a new spare) and an extra gas tank that carries fuel for cars that run out of gas. As far as what’s in the cabin, each Rescue Safari truck comes equipped with jumper cables, a basic toolkit for on-the-spot repairs, and most importantly, an emergency first aid kit to aid injured drivers while waiting for ambulances to arrive.
Speaking of, the Rescue Safari’s practices are known to be amongst the most effective in racing, saving the lives of numerous drivers during every Horizon Festival. To start off with, a number of Rescue Safari vehicles are placed evenly around the course, hidden in the scenery. The bare minimum is four trucks on the shortest of courses, with the numbers scaling depending on course length; the longest route has 40 Rescue Safari vehicles and numerous ambulances. In the event of a car getting stuck or having something happen to it, the driver radios the Forza Motorsport Association for help; the nearest Rescue Safari truck is deployed to help with the situation. In instances where more assistance is required (such as the rare instance where a car is so stuck that one Rescue Raptor can’t free it), the Rescue Safari team that initially responded to the request for assistance can radio for backup from other nearby Safari teams. In the event of a serious accident, the Rescue Safari team can radio for an ambulance and/or a MEDEVAC helicopter to head over to the accident scene while the Rescue Safari team(s) on the scene attempt to stabilize those injured with their on-board first aid kit(s). Meanwhile, an entourage of four Rescue Safari trucks escort the ambulance to the scene to prevent it from potentially getting stuck on the way.
In conclusion, it's easy to see why the Forza Horizon Rescue Safari is so renowned. Not only do they have some of the best practices in the business, but their signature fleet of 2017 Ford SVT F-150 Raptor Rescue Safari Editions are amongst the most potent rescue vehicles in the world. Put the two together, and you have a recipe for success… and safety.