It’s the very first time that the WRC has retired a number
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by Stephen Rivers
January 7, 2023 at 07:50
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by Stephen Rivers
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After the tragic death of motorsports icon Ken Block on Monday, the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA) announced on Friday that it’s retiring his number 43 for the World Rally Championship in 2023. After utilizing the number throughout his career and beyond the WRC, it’ll go unused in the series this year. It’s the first time that the WRC has retired a number.
Block died on Monday in an accident involving a snowmobile while in Park City, Utah. While he was on the trip with his family, he was alone when the accident occurred. Block was perhaps most well-known for his famous Gymkana videos but he spent many years competing in the WRC, Rally America, and later the American Rally Association, Rallycross, and other motorsports.
The FIA’s president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, said that “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the fact that he was held in such high regard by people the world over, it is entirely appropriate that his #43 will be withdrawn from use during the 2023 WRC season.”
He did not clarify whether or not the number would go back into use for the 2024 season but did comment to say that “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.”As Jalopnik points out, numbers are rarely retired in international motorsports.
Formula 1 only has one number retired, 17, after Jules Bianchi died due to injuries suffered during the 2014 Japanese GP. NASCAR also only has one retired number, 61, for Richie Evans after his death in 1985. That’s right, Dale Earnhardt’s number 3 is only unofficially retired. This is the only time that the World Rally Championship has ever retired a number even for a temporary duration.
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