Hoonigan had just hit us with the reveal of their latest machine, built for Ken Block, but it won’t be driven by Block during the first round of the Monster Energy Gymkhana GRID event this coming weekend. As Block will be defending his all-wheel drive title in the Ford Hoonicorn RTR, top Formula D competitor Ryan Tuerck will be filling the hot seat at the gymkhana event held at Santa Pod Raceway in the United Kingdom.
“Ken and the Hoonigans have given me an amazing opportunity to slay tyres in one of the raddest cars ever built,” says Tuerck. “The Ford Escort Mk2 is a legendary rally car, and this build is the ultimate mash-up of old and new, and JDM and Euro … I absolutely love it. I have always wanted to compete in the Gymkhana GRID events and I’m stoked to travel to England and give it my best shot against some of the finest drivers in the world. It is so cool to rep the Stars and Stripes on the hood of this badass gymkhana machine,” Tuerck states.
Tuerck and Block made their way out to Grange Motor Circuit, in the California desert, to get some serious lap time in before the fast-approaching event. It looks like Tuerck has a pretty good handle on things in the 248kW (333hp) Ford Escort Mk2, but enough of what we say, check out yet another rad video from the Hoonigan team, showing Ryan testing the Escort and cutting some sweet doughnuts around Ken. You’ve gotta love the sound of a highly strung, naturally aspirated four-banger!