For those of you who kept refreshing the Hoonigan channel in your browser, tough luck. The eighth installment of Gymkhana isn’t present there, but on the Ford Performance channel. Unfortunately for those eagerly awaiting Gymkhana 8, I am a bearer of bad news.
YouTube user Joshubaru hits the nail on the head in his 13-word comment on Gymkhana 8: “This would have been the best commercial for Ford during the Super Bowlÿ.” He’s not talking about the 650 horsepower Ford Fiesta RX43 in the opening credits, nor is he referring to the fact that Ken Block is on FoMoCo’s payroll.
What Joshubaru means is “Could we have our Gymkhana back, please? Thank you!” The truth of the matter is, the eighth chapter in the saga can’t hold a candle to the seventh. I admit I can’t help but think this Gymkhana screams product placement. Watch the 9-minute clip and you’ll understand what I’m on about.
There’s a scene in which Ken Block’s Fiesta RX43 is donutting around a Ford F-150 SVT Raptor pickup driven on two wheels. It’s the only scene that got me “Yes, this is more like it!” I don’t mean to spoil anything about Gymkhana 8 to you, but hear me out on this one - just don’t get your hopes up for an exciting follow-up to the flabbergasting Gymkhana 7.
The ending credits are more exciting in my book because here is where Ken Block teases the Ford Focus RS RX he'll be driving in Gymkhana 9. Look at the side intakes. Are those there to channel cold air into the radiators placed where the back seats on the normal Focus RS are or am I imagining stuff? Mid-engined Ford Focus RS for the win!
These said, now kick back in your chair, relax, grab some popcorn and a cold beer, then press play.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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