--- title: "Ken Block Unveils New Ford Focus RS RX for the Americas Rallycross Championship" description: "The new Ford racer will contest in the Americas and FIA World Rallycross championships." date: "2018-07-07" modified: "2018-07-07" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21987/ken-block-unveils-new-ford-focus-rs-rx-for-the-americas-rallycross-championship" categories: - "Ford News" - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Racing" tags: - "americas rallycross championship" - "Circuit of the Americas" - "compact" - "focus" - "Ford" - "Hatchback" - "Ken Block" - "Racing News" - "Rally Racing" - "sports car" - "world rallycross" --- # Ken Block Unveils New Ford Focus RS RX for the Americas Rallycross Championship ![]() *\www.thedrive.com\* Hoonigan Racing's [Ken Block]() and his new teammate Steve Arpin unveiled the new liveries for their Ford Focus RS RX racers that will contest in the remaining races of the Americas Rallycross Championship and the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2018. This year's rally-prepped hatchback is nearly identical to 2017's in terms of performance, with the updated livery showing the new partnership between the two drivers and Loenbro Motorsports being the only difference, in addition to [slight tweaks]() for rules compliance. ![message-editor%2F1530978659134-block2018\_800.jpg]() **Ford Performance** After the disastrous fallout of the [Red Bull Global Rallycross](), which was already enduring Block's absence toward the end of its existence, Hoonigan focused on building a strong platform for the FIA World Rallycross Championship. This included bringing Steve Arpin onboard, who adds much-needed technical and racing expertise to the team. “When I made the decision to return to a handful of rallycross events this year, I knew partnering with Steve Arpin and his team was the right move,” said Block. “I’ve always liked Steve as a driver and I had been keeping an eye on how he and his team had developed the older Ford Fiesta RX43 chassis and were still achieving top results with it, so I knew I wanted to work with them with our Focus RS RX. When I made that decision, Ford stepped up and decided to then supply Steve a Focus RS RX of his own to further help assist in the development. Needless to say, I’m very excited about the forward progress they've made and I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel!" This updated RS RX will compete in the three remaining Americas Rallycross Championship races at the [Circuit of the Americas]() in July; at Trois Rivieres in Quebec, Canada in August; and then back at COTA in September. Block will also compete in the U.S. round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship, taking place that same weekend of September 29-30 at COTA. ![message-editor%2F1530978677942-arpin2018\_800.jpg]() **Ford Performance** "I'm excited about partnering with Ken \[Block\] this season," said Arpin. "He and I have always gotten along great at the track in the past and I think we're both in a position to help each other this year. I'm also happy about the fact that Ford Performance entrusted myself and my team to help further develop the Focus RS RX rallycross program, the car has felt amazing in our testing with the revisions we've made and I'm really eager to get it out on track and put it to the ultimate test against the competition." Both drivers will also compete at [Travis Pastrana’s]() Nitro World Games rallycross event, taking place September 22-23 at the Utah Motorsports Complex near Salt Lake City, Utah. ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()