Craftsmanship & Assembly
The second Ford Performance Focus RS RX video delivers an inside look at the build process
By Steve Turner
Photos courtesy of Ford Motor Company
Today Ford Performance released the second installment of its video docu-series offering a behind-the-scenes look at the new Focus RS RX racer piloted by Ken Block and Andreas Bakkerud in the FIA World Rallycross Championship series.
Late last month the first episode in the four-part series hit the web and gave us insight into the car’s design and development. This time the video peers deeper into the collaborative build process between Ford Performance engineers, M Sport and Hoonigan Racing Division. Check out the second episode right here…
[video=youtube;-S6pf9soJSU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S6pf9soJSU[/video]
Last weekend driver and head Hoonigan Ken Block scored the first podium finish for the fledgling Focus RS RX racer. After qualifying in the 12th spot, Ken piloted the 600-horsepower hot hatch to a third-place finish in the event in Hockenheim, Germany.
“I’m so stoked to get on the podium in the second event! Andreas finished fourth in Portugal, and now I’m third here. We’re really stoked on the way this is going. Now, we just need to work on consistency,” Ken said. “We’re getting closer. Times felt better today; the car felt better today. Hopefully we can just keep pushing.”
For a taste of the RS RX in competition, you can spend 43 seconds with Ken Block here...
[video=youtube;fJAi70z20HA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJAi70z20HA[/video]
Building a car for this kind of competition is tough, but doing it in a short time is even tougher. Obviously the development work showcased in the video series paid off at the races in short order.
“We designed the Focus RS RX to be competitive in World Rallycross, and developed it on a very tight timeline. The Ford Performance, M-Sport, and Hoonigan Racing Division teams put in a lot of long hours to get us here, and we are really proud of what we have accomplished so far,” Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance, added. “To have one podium and another fourth place finish this early in the season is an achievement. I have confidence that there will be more to come from this team.”
The two RS RX racers will return to WRC action this weekend at the event in Circuit Jules Tacheny in Mettet, Belgium.
The second installment of the Ford Performance video series on Focus RS RX development offers a look at the build process.
