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Ken Block Drops Trademark Subaru In Favour of Ford

K keshy
Posted onJan 8, 2010 at 2:48 AM

block ford

You read the title right, Ken Block will be swapping his trademark Subaru WRX STi for a Ford in 2010. Yes, I know what you are thinking and trust me it was a “WTF” moment for me as well but he’s getting quite a sweet deal – different Fords for different purposes rather than one WRX STi for multiple purposes.

Firstly, there’s the Rally America Championship and X-Games that Block competes in, for this year Ken will be doing that in a Ford Fiesta. Next up is the latest news about Ken Block competing in the World Rally Championship and to help him attain top points, Block will be piloting a Focus RS built by specialist tuners M-Sport – “the team chosen by Ford Motor Company to mastermind their assault on the FIA World Rally Championship since 1997.”

Ken doesn’t just stop at rallying and competing in the X-Games, there’s the infamous Gymkhana thing that he so famously popularized on Youtube. And according to our source, Ford could be preparing another car specially made for Gymkhana-ing, we do not know as yet which car that will be but purpose made cars for each competition is good enough to make any adrenalin junkie consider a swap but this is a done deal and Block will be behind the wheel of Ford’s for 2010, it’s going to be quite a sight.

Post Views: 474
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    JuzTin
  • Jan 8, 2010
Still prefer him in the Impreza.
But still looking forward for his result.
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    AXXeLL
  • Jan 8, 2010
still love what he does with in a Subaru... lets see how interesting its gonna get in a Ford...
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    netmatrix
  • Jan 8, 2010
Hey ZTH i have been seeing this vertfeed spam bot going about the posts. Doing anything about it?
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    drMpower
  • Jan 8, 2010
the switch is primarily about getting him into WRC circus, where Subaru doesnt feature in for whatever reason the boffins have. Mitsu the other familiar names opted out of WRC. both are really stupid i must say.

what kind of special vehicle Ford got in mind when it says about special Gymkhana-ing purpose vehicle? well, apart from that super famous rally thing, Focus RS, i couldnt think of anything else.

a remake Vatanen's RS1800? that sierra running BTCC in the 80s? propped up S-Max? why not, aiye?

heard he competed in that American Rally something. hows he fared? good enough for WRC?
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    TitanRev
  • Jan 8, 2010
Netmatrix, i noticed that also. I will inform Tom. Thank You.
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    GTi
  • Jan 8, 2010
everybody goes to where the money is, simple as that...
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    Marv
  • Jan 8, 2010
Without prejudice, I must say, he's an American for goodness sake. And American drive a US made car. Simple as that.
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    Keith Kundi
  • Jan 8, 2010
Will take me a week to accept the fact though... Well, as long as he kicks just as much ass as he did with the Impreza, I'll be happy... :)
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Gymkhana 3 will be released this Summer and the car Ken Block will be driving is a FORD FIESTA which is currently being developed.

Ken will only be driving the Focus in WRC this year. From 2011 onwards whether it's Stateside or in WRC he will be piloting the FIESTA.

You can read the whole thing at my website: http://www.badboyben.com/?p=2861

As for Subaru Rally team USA - #199 Travis Pastrana will still be their #1 driver and #40 Dave Mirra will step up to replace Ken Block.

Subaru USA is a dealer, not a manufacturer so they have no reason to sponsor Ken Block in WRC. Fuji Heavy Industries has opted out of WRC due to budget concerns and changes in regulations but are competing again in IRC as you all know.
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Also, another bit of information that has not been mentioned here is the fact that the team Ken Block is going to be racing for is the newly formed Monster World Rally Team - www.monsterworldrallyteam.com

2nd driver for the team is going to be Chris Atkinson.
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    td
  • Jan 8, 2010
Clearly a WTF moment of the week. Which gives me an idea, you should post up a 'WTF Moment of the Week' news column, Keshy :)
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    BabyGodzillaGTi-R
  • Jan 8, 2010
I love the looks of the Ford Focus RS.
If only they would come up for the general public a homologation special to follow the spirit of the Ford Escort and Siera Cosworth.
Sweet....
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    piggie
  • Jan 8, 2010
cant go wrong with ford! whats the big deal with subarus anyway?
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    td
  • Jan 9, 2010
Homologation is sweet, it brought us legends such as the Evo 6.5 TME (rally) and the BNR34 (Super GT)
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    abe20
  • Jan 9, 2010
wtf..must change my idol...huhuhu
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    DJ
  • Jan 10, 2010
it the legendary impreza STI that made him well known, now he is leaning towards ford, WTF?
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    pokemon
  • Jan 10, 2010
at least he prefered that car rather than the Citroen...

man, I began to hate the 'Loeb' domination (sorry Loeb fans)..:)
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