Ford's tribute to Ken Block

Published Date: 24th Jan 2023

 

Tributes across the motorsport world for Ken Block have been abundant and varied. The World Rally Championship and Nitro Rallycross have both retired his #43 from racing, with the former retiring it for the 2023 season, while the latter’s retirement is permanent, as a sign of respect for the beloved rally driver, who tragically passed away in January 2021. Ford, who provided rally cars for Block and his Hoonigan Racing Division from 2010 to 2020, has also honoured Ken in a special way by dedicating all Ford-affiliated cars throughout their 2023 calendar year to his memory. Ford's tribute decal will debut on the M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1s of Pierre-Louis Loubet and Ott Tänak as they compete in the WRC-opening Rallye Monte-Carlo.

Ken Block was best known for driving Ford vehicles such as the Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus in rallycross and WRC events over his decade-long partnership with Ford. He also drove multiple Ford models in his acclaimed Gymkhana video series, including a modified Mustang dubbed “Hoonicorn” and an F-150 called “Hoonitruck”. His switch to Audi in 2021 saw Team Audi Sport place a “Racing for Ken #43” sticker on their Dakar Rally cars just two days after his passing.

Ford Performance stated, “Ken, all of our race teams across all series are gonna bring you along for one final ride to start the season. We miss you”. In addition to competing in various events with Ford, Block was also a well-known figure within automotive circles due to his popular videos, which inspired an entire generation of fans. To honour this legacy, Ford will be showcasing their tribute stickers across other championships where they are involved, such as IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge plus NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Supercars Championship, Formula D and Ultra4 races when those seasons begin later this year.

The company released a statement expressing their sadness at losing such an iconic figure within motorsport: “With Ken’s passing, we've lost a true legend and our dear friend...We're honoured to have worked closely with Ken as he entertained the most devout enthusiasts while inspiring an entirely new generation of automotive fans....Our hearts go out to his family". As further tributes pour in from around the world, Ken Block will remain an iconic figure in rally sports long into future generations thanks to his dedication and passion over many years of racing.

RIP the Iconic Ken Block