Ford Focus RS to Compete in 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship

For the upcoming 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship, Ford will race two Focus RS models through Ken Block’s Hoonigan Racing Division. Block will be joined by Andreas Bakkerud behind the wheel for the season. This championship marks the competition debut for the Ford Focus RS race car, based off the all-new global 2016 Focus RS with Ford Performance torque vectoring all-wheel drive.

The two factory-supported Focus RS race cars were teased at the end of Block’s Gymkhana 8, which was released earlier this week. Previous Ford RS models have had success in past seasons of the FIA World Rally Championship, and ford hopes to continue the racing legacy of the RS brand with these two new cars.

“RS is a worldwide brand with a rich heritage that motorsports enthusiasts know and love,” said Ford Performance global director Dave Pericak, in a release. “Our RS badge has a natural connection to racing, and we have a passionate, dedicated team on the project. We’re excited to honor the history of Rallye Sport by pushing every aspect of performance and design to the limit.”

The two Focus RS rally cars were built in collaboration with Ford Performance, Block’s Hoonigan Racing Division, and U.K.-based M-Sport, and will be powered by a new, 600-hp EcoBoost engine that’s said to accelerate the cars to 60 mph time under 2 seconds. The Ford Focus RS Rallycross cars will make their official competition debut at the FIA World Rallycross event in Portugal on April 15.

Source: Ford

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