REPORT: Ken Block heading to WRC with new Monster Ford team
One of the most significant deals in rally history. That's how news of Ken Block's imminent move to the World Rally Championship is being touted in the motorsport press. And we couldn't agree more.
Now don't get us wrong. We enjoy watching Block's famous antics behind the wheel of his purpose-built Gymkhana Subaru Impreza as much as the next guy. Probably more. But we can't help but feel that the superstar's otherworldly car control skills couldn't be put to better use than pure showboating. And this deal could give him exactly that opportunity, graduating from the relatively low-visibility Rally America series to the top-tier WRC.
Since Subaru, for whom Block competes in the USA, pulled out of the WRC, Ken's been hunting for another ride in the premier series, and reports now indicate that he – along with former Subaru driver Chris Atkinson – will be driving the 2009-spec Ford Focus WRC for the new Monster Energy Drink World Rally Team (which could, incidentally, go some way towards explaining what the two rally stars were doing behind the wheel of that old Ford Escort). Once the details are hammered out, both Block and Atkinson are expected to start next season in select rounds of the championship before challenging the full calendar the year after, presumably behind the wheel of the new rally-spec Fiesta.
[Source: Autosport]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
David 2:24PM (10/15/2009)
Ken Block isn't a fast rally driver, and he is going to get blown away by the competition out there. He'll be just as boring as Pastrana was in his few attempts @ WRC.
Sorry Block, stick to the showboating, you're far more entertaining in that regard.
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xpolarx 6:56PM (10/15/2009)
I live up the street from VTcar...the folks who build and manage the Subaru team's cars in Rally America...and I bump into Carolyn Bosley every now and again. She seems to think that Ken Block has a whole hell of a lot of unrealized potential. So, I don't expect him to knock Sordo, Hirvonen, and Loeb off of their respective pedestals his first year...or even his second year...but with a few years of serious competition under his belt, I think he could get to that level. And hey, it'd be nice to see an American flag on the window of a WRC car, wouldn't it?
IRONFIST 9:31PM (10/15/2009)
@David
Couldn't agree more, I'd be REALLY surprised if he is competitive at all. He's great for entertainment, but not for seriously competitive racing.
audi_arena 9:25AM (10/16/2009)
^ Very, very cool stuff. Maybe he will get his doors blown in, maybe not; but I will sure as hell be watching!
Andre 2:25PM (10/15/2009)
Ken Block and Ford in the same sentence, gonna take some time to get used to, But I can see why he did it though, I guess if SUBIE would of stayed in the WRC he could of been driving for them instead of Ford..
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Paul 3:12PM (10/15/2009)
Huge loss to Subie's street cred, but a boon to Ford's. With the Fiesta coming here and a new Focus around the corner, they would be wise to leverage his reputation.
That said, yeah, WRC is tough business and it remains to be seen how he performs. After all, he could be up against Loeb and Raikkonen and that's serious stuff. But as a business move, I think this is a very good move for Ford.
whookid 2:29PM (10/15/2009)
Welcome to the shark infested water mr block, slow mo cams and stunt videos mean nothing here.
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hks118 2:38PM (10/15/2009)
Why all the hate for KB? All he's done is score tons of points in Rally America...the man can certainly drive. Good luck KB.
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Dan 2:54PM (10/15/2009)
We aren't hating. Scoring point in Rally America is like scoring points in a high school football game. He is going to do bad in WRC which is the NFL.
I do hope this bring more light on WRC and more coverage here in the States.
hks118 2:59PM (10/15/2009)
What the hell?? The man has yet to even enter a WRC rally and you're saying "he is going to to bad"...that's hating if I've ever seen it. Give the guy a chance, jeeze.
downhill.specialist 3:01PM (10/15/2009)
I like Ken Block because he's a self-made man. I like his videos. I just don't think he's very good. Frankly, give me one of his STi's, and I'll do an exact replica of his Gymnkana antics. It's easy to do big power slides with over 500awhp and crap tires.
I think he's a good driver, but in my opinion he's always had a long ways to go to before I'd consider him a real-deal rally racer. It may be unfair of me to say that, since I'm certainly not doing as much as even him, but its just where I stand. WRC is going to be a great opportunity to prove his ability, or prove that he was just a big fish in a small pond. Rally-America is pretty mild compared to the rest of the world's events.
speedball3 3:02PM (10/15/2009)
There is no doubt he can drive. The doubt is whether he can hang with the best of the WRC drivers or just be another back marker. That said, I hope him all the best! It will be a bit odd to see him in a Ford but I'm curious what antics he'll come up with next with his new car. =)
fmwso 7:38PM (10/15/2009)
I'm with you hks, he hasn't even started racing in WRC and everyone's hating him already. I wish him the best. Besides, it's good to see an American driving at WRC. Good luck KB!
rombick 2:40PM (10/15/2009)
Cant wait to see what happens, he'll either be very good, or very bad. he wasn't bad in us series rally tho.
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Jason 7:02PM (10/15/2009)
Agreed. Those that haven't seen him actually run a complete rally event, haven't seen the real Ken Block. I recently went the the Rally America event in Steamboat, CO. Ken was in a lower powered car than most of the top runners, and he still won the first two stages of the event. Believe he finished in third place after Subaru pulled Pastrana out of the race on Saturday night.
foo 2:44PM (10/15/2009)
good luck with that...doing good in the US series doesnt equate to doing good in the WRC...farm league vs major league. he will get schooled
almost like the euros coming over to NASCAR to race they dont do so well
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James_604 3:20PM (10/15/2009)
@foo
Ummmm.....check which NASCAR driver is currently #3 in the standings...
1.Mark Martin 0
2.Jimmie Johnson -18
3.Juan Pablo Montoya -51
4.Tony Stewart -67
I suggest you retract your statement !!!!
cdwrx 3:35PM (10/15/2009)
James_604
Columbia isn't in Europe.
Matt 7:46AM (10/16/2009)
And a poor record of Americans going to F1
Can't say I know much about Rally America but theres some pretty varied driving conditions in WRC, give him some time to find his feet. A good marketing move in the meantime anyway
Arthur 2:47PM (10/15/2009)
This is incredible news! I really am curious how he'll stack up against the beastly Loeb and Hirvonen. Also curious how Atkinson will continue handling his new Citroen.
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