Ken Block, the person that every car guy would kill various family members to have an iota of his car control skill, is leaving Subaru. Beginning this year he will be driving for Ford in their specially prepared Fiestas here in states, and the Focus (where the car is infinitely better then the poor excuse for a wheel barrow we get here) for the World Rally Championship. Here is the official press release from good ole FoMoCo:
EARBORN, Mich., Jan. 6, 2010 – Ford Motor Company announced today that it is teaming up with Ken Block, the California-based action sports icon-turned-rally driver, for future global motorsports opportunities.
Block, the 2005 Rally America Rookie of the Year and a three-time medalist at X Games, has cultivated a tremendous following with his Gymkhana videos on YouTube. In 2010, Block will campaign a Ford Focus in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and a Ford Fiesta in Rally America and X Games.
“I am stoked to be rallying in a Ford. They are an impressive force in the sport,” said Ken Block. “From the days of the 1970s Escorts to the Group B RS200 to the modern-day Focus and now the Fiesta, Ford just does an excellent job at rally and I couldn’t be happier to now be part of this amazing heritage. Not to mention my dad would be proud. He was a dedicated Ford guy.”
“Ken Block has established himself as an action sports competitor and a rising star in the world of American rally racing,” said Jamie Allison, director Ford North America Motorsports. “We are excited to have him on our team to help promote our new global products, the 2011 Ford Fiesta and 2012 Ford Focus.”
Rallying is a crucial part of Ford’s global motorsports strategy and provides the company with the opportunity to showcase the true performance capabilities of Ford’s products. Since its support of rallying began, Ford has won three WRC titles and 73 individual events. And, last year in North America, Ford’s participation in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and X Games 15 were key elements for the launch of the Ford Fiesta for the U.S.
“Thanks to our participation in WRC, rallying has always played a key role in Ford’s global motorsports programs,” said Allison. “Ford is the only manufacturer that could provide Ken with global rally opportunities.”
“We’re delighted that Ken Block has chosen to team up with Ford to develop his rallying activities beyond America and into the global arena,” said Gerard Quinn, Ford of Europe’s senior motorsports manager. “Ford and its U.K.-based rally partner, M-Sport, is looking forward to welcoming Ken to the wider team of talented rally drivers using Ford vehicles to compete in this demanding sport at the highest level internationally.”
It realy does suck to see but hey Ford Aint bad at all… Remember the Ford Escort RS cosworth? =D
yeah except for the minor problem that we never got it over here. LOL
Ford is run by some very smart people. They find people who create hype or have a following to represent them. Toby Keith to sell
trucks and Ken Block to sell Fiestas.
Cash Rules Everything Around Me. C.R.E.A.M. Get that money, Dolla-Dolla Billz ya’ll.
LOL @ joe.
where’s my stickers!?!?
Supposedly in the mail. Supposedly.
ssssuuurrreeee it is.
I kinda agree with Joe… and add to that – the fact that Ford is building some very nice, well designed cars right now. Maybe Ken Block will open some awareness to that fact a little bit (in our social groups anyway). Having said that – if Ford doesn’t bring the Focus RS to the states and soon . . . they will f**k the pooch as far as I’m concerned. Like I said – they are building some nice cars . . . but none of them are sporty, so they dont really get any street-cred with the Ken Block type of supporters. Needs to be at a reasonable price-point too.
they need to bring the Fiesta ST…the RS would be nice but it would priced too high. whereas the Fiesta ST would be cheap and easy to modify, and it’s also a good looking car to boot.
I agree, the fiesta appears to have alot of potental, i mean, i believe they’re only 1.8L engines, and the one they run for the x-games and WRC run 50 PSI of boost and put out something like 750+ HP…..craziness for sure. The only thing i want to know about Ken leaving subaru is 1.) what happens to his friggen awesome cars and 2.) What happens to all the assholes that thought they were part of ken Block’s racing team by buying those DC shirts with Subaru plastered all over it……..