Skip to main content

Ford Focus RS to enter World Rallycross Championship, with Ken Block at the wheel

The original Ford Focus RS was inspired by rally cars, so it’s very fitting that the latest Focus RS will get its tires dirty in rally competition. Ford says the white-hot hatchback will compete in the FIA World Rallycross Championship, in the hands of Ken Block.

Teased at the end of Block’s Gymkhana 8 video, the Focus RS rallycross car will be fielded by the YouTube star’s Hooligan Racing team for the full 2016 season. Block will drive one car, and the team will also campaign a second car driven by Andreas Bakkerud. Block started out as a Subaru man, but has used Fords for the past few years. His typical mount is some form of Fiesta rally car, and he also drove an 850-horsepower, all-wheel-drive 1965 Mustang in one of the Gymkhana videos.

Recommended Videos

Unlike traditional rallying, in which drivers compete to set the fastest time over stages usually laid out on public roads, Rallycross events are run on self-contained circuits, usually small enough to fit inside a stadium. The tracks generally combine dirt and tarmac, with some jumps thrown in for good measure. The spectacle and fast pace of this form of racing has made it popular among promoters trying to reach the Internet generations. There are actually two major Rallycross series at the moment: the FIA World Rallycross Championship, and Red Bull Global Rallycross.

Like other Rallycross cars, the Focus RS will bear at least some resemblance to the showroom model. One look at the modified bodywork, though, and it’s clear this isn’t an ordinary Focus RS. The rallycross car produces 600 horsepower, which is sent to all four wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox. Ford says it will do 0 to 60 mph in 2.0 seconds, and the suspension and brakes were upgraded for motorsports duty.

The Focus RS will get its first taste of competition at the FIA World Rallycross Championship event in Portugal on April 15. The 2016 season includes 12 races in 11 countries on three continents.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
8 key things you need to know from Apple’s WWDC 2025 event
From a fresh look and updated names, to new features, more intelligence and live translation
iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 shown on devices.

The WWDC 2025 keynote ran for just over an hour and a half. For those of you who don't fancy sitting through the whole presentation, we've pulled out the key things you need to know from the latest Apple event.

1. Welcome to the 26 club

Read more
Tesla’s robotaxi service is almost here, but it’s not the car you want to see
Silver Tesla Model Y Juniper side

Tesla chief Elon Musk has said that the automaker is aiming to launch its robotaxi service on June 22, in Austin, Texas.

“Tentatively, June 22,” Musk said in a post on X on Tuesday, adding: “We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift.”

Read more
I tried an e-bike for the first time and now I’m hooked
It’s not about being a 'bike person', it’s about finding small upgrades to everyday life
A woman sitting on the Aventon Pace 4

Before this year, I’d never even touched an e-bike before, and the thought of riding one was never on my radar. With life already in constant motion thanks to two toddlers, biking wasn’t something I ever considered adding to the mix.

I’d always assumed e-bikes were for hardcore commuters or serious cyclists, not someone like me. I wasn’t looking for a big lifestyle change. I just wanted a quicker way to get to the park so we’d have more time to play before dinner.

Read more