WRC withdraws number 43 in honour of Ken Block | GRR
The World Rally Championship has announced that it will remove the number 43 from all rallies in 2023 in memory of the late Ken Block.
While Block was perhaps best known for his online videos, including his Gymkhana series, Climbkhana and latterly Electrikhana, he began his driving career in rallying. After time in Rally America – in which he would finish as championship runner-up on multiple occasions – Block stepped up to the top level of rallying.
Block’s first WRC forays were with his own branded team, in a Subaru Impreza in 2007 and 2008, before he joined up with Monster and M-Sport for three partial seasons in 2010, ‘11 and ‘12.
After his partial seasons finished and he switched to rallycross, he continued to make one-off WRC appearances until 2018, all with Ford. Overall Block competed in 25 WRC events, scoring 18 points in the process with a highest finish of 7th in the 2013 Rally Mexico.
Remembering Ken Block
Much like Valentino Rossi’s iconic 46, the number 43 was synonymous with Ken Block, adorning most of his cars from rallying to rallycross and beyond. In order to pay tribute to the American the number will not be used in any class of the WRC through the entirety of the 2023 season.
Speaking of the tribute FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “Given the enormous contribution our great friend Ken Block made to motorsport and the fact that he was held in such high regard by people the world over, it is entirely appropriate that his #43 will be withdrawn from use during the 2023 WRC season.
“While it’s a small gesture, we hope that it is one that will bring some comfort to his family and friends at this time. Ken was a true legend and the memory of this true legend will live with us forever.”
Images courtesy of Motorsport Images