Ken Block’s ever-popular Ford Escort RS Cosworth ‘Cossie’ V2 will return to the American Rally Association stages next week, with 16-year-old Jax Redline driving it on his rallying debut at the New England Forest Rally.
It will mark the first time one of Block’s unique creations has been entered into competition by another driver since Ryan Tuerk ran Block’s Mk2 Escort at Gymkhana GRID at Santa Pod in the UK back in 2015.
Redline’s maiden rally, which will be alongside US rally veteran Michael Hordijk, comes at an event where Block’s original Escort Cosworth – which the ‘V2’ replaced – was destroyed by a fire after an accident in 2018.
The V2 has since competed all over the world, including Mexico, Ireland, and New Zealand, and has four ARA starts to its credit, its best finish being second at last year’s Southern Ohio Forest Rally.
Redline meanwhile, despite his tender age, is a seasoned off-road racing competitor, and his first attempt at stage rallying comes as Block looks to try his hand at trophy truck racing at the Baja 1000 in November in something of a role reversal between the pair.
Block’s quest is being covered in a new eight-part Hoonigan series on YouTube called ‘Whoopocalypse Now’, which also shows Redline’s rally education as he aims to expand his skillset.
Episode one shows Redline’s first steps to becoming a rally driver, with Block giving him his first lessons in the art of sliding an all-wheel-drive machine at Utah Motorsports Campus, the spiritual home of Nitro Rallycross.
The new look for the ‘Cossie’ is also revealed in episode one, bringing it in line with Block’s VT21R Subaru WRX STI rally car and the Tuthill Porsche he will campaign on the East African Safari Classic Rally; while Block’s trophy truck will debut on episode 2 on July 29.
Block will also be competing at the New England Forest Rally on July 30-31 in his Subaru WRX STI with long-time co-driver Alex Gelsomino.
Now, to quote Mr. Redline “That’s enough talking”, watch episode one of ‘Whoopocalypse Now’ above:
