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Motorsport can feel a bit dull when the race is on a boring track and once the points battle is decided there is nothing left to fight for. And all too often, drivers are a dry toast of their personality. However, motorsport at its peak can be frenetic, endlessly exciting and full of unique and endearing personalities. One such example is Ken Block, who helped bring powersports into the automotive industry’s attention with highly modified Subaru Imprezas and Ford Fiestas. One of the Fiestas used in YouTube’s iconic gymkhana movies is now up for sale at RM Sotheby’s.
This is the One Special Ford Fiesta
The GYM3 engine is capable of 600 horsepower and 660 pound-feet of torque
Dubbed GYM3, the 2011 Ford Fiesta ST was stock before it was snapped up by Swedish racing team Olsbergs MSE and fitted with a variety of rallycross and other high-performance goodies. Most notable is the engine, a 2.0-liter Duratec four-cylinder with a nice turbo. But don’t let the “Duratec” name fool you, the maximum output is 600 horsepower and 660 lb-ft of torque. That engine is mated to an Olsbergs MSE MakTrak six-speed sequential transmission that sends all that power to each wheel, allowing the GYM3 to go from 0-60 mph in about 2 seconds.
Stopping power is provided by Alcon Racing brakes, while Ohlins shock absorbers take care of handling and absorb landings from big jumps and bumps. The construction is seam welded and has a guard underneath to prevent critical components or lines from getting caught or broken. As you can see, the bodywork has also been modified with massive flared fenders, a large carbon front splitter attached to a more aggressive front splitter, and a huge U-shaped, rally-inspired rear wing.
Gymkhana and cool stuff
GYM3’s interior has been gutted and purpose-built
A racing car is nothing without an empty cabin and sick paint. The interior of the GYM3 is bare except for an OMSE roll cage, a hydraulic handbrake with Ken’s Huck Gee skull logo, a bunch of decals and switches, and a digital display. The exterior is surrounded by the famous back white drop, which was based on Block’s World Rally Championship car of the time. If you’re not aware, Gymkhana is a form of motorsport that involves riders competing point-to-point on a course covered in obstacles and jumps that the driver must drift, slide and generally wreak havoc on. tires.
The third Gymkhana video featured this very car and is the first Ford to be featured in the series. In Gymkhana 3, Block smashes the Autodrome De Monthery, a racetrack built in France in 1924, with a 52-degree bank angle. In early 2022, Hoonigan Racing Division rebuilt the transmission and RM Motorsports reinstalled it, replaced the clutch pressure plate and rear head gasket, installed four ignition packs and spark plugs, fixed vacuum leaks and retuned the engine. Before this repair, a new ECU was also replaced just for the gear changes.
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