Skip to main content

Old Kid On A New Block: Ken Block Joins FIA World RX for Full 2016 Season

Photo Credit: FIA World Rallycross Presented by Monster Energy

A high-flying fan favourite in rally and rallycross competition, American driver Ken Block will take his act to a more international stage in 2016.

The Hoonigan Racing driver has committed to run all 12 rounds of the 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy (informally named World RX) with the support of Ford Performance. Having completed in just two events part of the World RX tour in his career prior, Block's entrance into the series have all indication of being a competitive first full season. "For a big portion of my career I've maintained a mixed focus and kept a diverse race calendar, but now I'll be focusing myself fully on one single championship." said Ken Block responding to his upcoming plans.

At the age of 48, Ken Block arrives as a full-time rookie in World RX with considerable credentials. Block's early success was related to the Rally America where he posted a total of 16 event victories. Ken Block won the Rally of the 100 Acre Wood on a consecutive basis from 2006 to 2012 and once-again in 2014. Competing in the Global Rallycross tour on a full-time basis from 2012 to 2015, Block has won six events (three occurring in the 2015 season). Ken Block narrowly lost the 2014 season-long title fight by a five-point margin to Joni Wilman.

Despite never having won a championship in rally car-style competition, Block has garnered acclaim for a proven skill in handling showcased on the track as well as in popular viral videos found on social media. Videos featuring Ken Block are attributed to hundreds of millions of views on Youtube.

Since 2010, Ken Block has enjoyed an association with Ford Motor Company. Extended factory involvement by Ford is credited to the 48-year-old driver's undertaking of a full-season in World RX for 2016. Global Director of Ford Performance Dave Pericak expressed an understanding for the driver's career goal saying, “We know Ken’s team is the right one to help us pursue our goal of winning an FIA World Rallycross Championship title and tell the Ford Performance story. Ford and Ford Performance are global brands, just like Ken, so it’s a great match for all of us involved.”

"I've been stoked with what my team and I have accomplished so far with my Ford Fiesta ST racecars and I'm excited to see what we'll be able to do next season with factory support. It's going to be a very exciting 2016 and I can't wait to get started.” said Block looking ahead to a racing season that starts on April 16th and 17th in Montalegre, Portugal.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Canadian Star Car: Red Green's Possum Van

Clip of Possum Van during a Red Green Show season 1 scene transition.  It could be argued that the car someone regularly drives can be reflective of their personality. The level of character traits found in our automobiles can range from subtle to flamboyant as practicality, style, power, brand loyalty and other details are factors influencing our vehicle affection. On the big screen and silver screen, an automobile (frequently popularized as a Star Car) can be used to affirmatively to expand on a human character. Batman’s Batmobile, the Dodge Charger called the ‘General Lee’ in Dukes of Hazzard, the Volvo P1800 featured in the 1960s television version of The Saint, the Aston Martin DB5 driven by James Bond in some of the most famous spy movies are some popular examples where vehicles play a major role in reinforcing the appearance of fictional individuals. Due to the budgetary constraints of Canadian media productions, the presence of native Star Cars is rare. However, one success...
Post a Comment
Read more

Honda’s Secret 30th Anniversary In Indy Car Racing

Photo Credit: Engine Developments Ltd. Too many times, forgetting an anniversary would end with someone spending time in the proverbial doghouse. This has apparently happened this year as the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season concluded with no major celebrations or recognition for what is 30 years since a major current partner of American open wheel racing began participation in the sport. The following article is a collection of the details I’ve learned as well as some insight from engine builder John Judd on what was a quiet 30th anniversary in the Verizon IndyCar Series. During the week where the 30th running of the Canadian street race now known as the Honda Indy Toronto, I was compelled to capture the flavour of the inaugural event. The viewing experience provided me some insight into a period of time where I was too young to absorb auto racing in the manner I do today. A race that featured television coverage with no regular onscreen statistics, the league used a local ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The 1967 Indy 500: When An STP-Sponsored Turbine Almost Changed Racing

Photo Credit: Uncredited Photographer/IMS LLC Racing has always been the ultimate proving ground for automobiles. Not only has competition promoted innovations big and small, race cars have also influenced overall vehicle appearance. At the 1967 Indianapolis 500, the STP-Paxton TurboCar fielded by the late Andy Granatelli provided a shocking example of how much racing at the speedway evolved over 56 years. Ever since the first 500-mile event was held at the 2.5-mile rectangular oval Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1911, the winning Marmon Wasp with a rearview mirror paved the way for what would be a grand showcase of automotive development. Accompanying “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” advancements in automobile technology showed greater sophistication with every passing decade in the quest for more speed. During the 1920s and 1930s, American race car designer Henry Miller offered groundbreaking engines to the Indianapolis 500. Miller also gave front-wheel drive technology it...
Post a Comment
Read more