The Baja 1000 is one of the most arduous motorsport events in the world. It is a continuous 1 000 mile (1 609 km) race that has just one stage. It’s a flat out run through the Mexican peninsula that low-volume sportscar manufacturer Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus plans to contest in the unique SCG Baja Boot in November this year.

US-based SCG is better known for the sportscars it produces and races at the Nurburgring 24 Hour. With new rules implemented for the 24 Hours of Le Mans will pit the small-scale manufacturer against works outfits such as Aston Martin and Toyota on the world stage.

Click here to read about the new Le Mans hypercar rules.

A famous boot

In the inaugural Baja 1000 event, held in 1967, actor Steve McQueen competed in a vehicle called the Baja Boot. This very car is owned by SCG founder James Glickenhaus. Last year the SCG head honcho asked his design time to produce a modern version of the Baja Boot. The SCG Baja Boot was unveiled this week. The aim of the reimagined racer is to compete in the Baja 1000 in stock form, and then drive back home.

“This November we are going to drive our Glickenhaus Baja Boot from San Diego to Ensenada, race the Baja 1000, and drive home. What’s not to like?” Jim Glickenhaus, company founder.

Race engineered

Powering the SCG version is a 485 kW GM-sourced V8. To be competitive in the Baja 1000 the SCG Boot has been built with competition in mind first and foremost. It has four-wheel independent suspension with 480 mm of travel, Fox coilovers, 40-inch tyres, and Wilwood brakes, and that’s just in standard, road-going form.

In full race trim it has race suspension, with increased travel and strengthened components, dual dampers front and rear, larger brake discs, BF Goodrich Baja tyres measuring 37-inches in size and long-range fuel tanks.

“We welcome any manufacture that makes an SUV to race our new Boot in the 2019 Baja 1000 in a stock SUV class. The Baja 1000 has a stock VW Bug class, a stock truck class, and soon, a stock SUV class.” Jesse Glickenhaus, managing director of SCG.