November 30, 2015 – Before Ken Block started using it for Gymkhana, the Ford Escort was a very popular car in the world of rallying, as it gave Ford its first World Rally Championship constructors’ title in 1979 with Bjorn Waldegard, who also took the drivers’ crown. In addition, Ari Vatanen took his sole World Rally Championship drivers’ title in a Ford Escort in 1981.
The Escort is still being used nowadays in rally events around the European continent; earlier this year, Frank Kelly proved that the car can still take a beating as he pulled off a massive jump onboard his blue Escort during the Sperring Rally in Northern Ireland.