Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[X Games 17 brings RallyCross to the streets of L.A. [spoilers w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/01/x-games-17-brings-rallycross-to-the-streets-of-l-a-spoilers-w/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/01/x-games-17-brings-rallycross-to-the-streets-of-l-a-spoilers-w/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/01/x-games-17-brings-rallycross-to-the-streets-of-l-a-spoilers-w/#commentsFiled under:

X Games 17 RallyCross

Over the weekend, rally cars took over the streets of downtown Los Angeles to compete in X Games 17. The field of drivers was perhaps the most prestigious yet, with plenty of X Games veterans like Tanner Foust, Travis Pastrana and Brian Deegan facing tough new challengers in the form of Marcus Grönholm, two-time World Champion of the World Rally Championship series and European RallyCross veteran Liam Doran.

The new venue, the third in three years, provided an interesting setting to watch rally cars fly by - traffic whizzed by on the 110 Freeway just a block away - and for the drivers, it was a welcome change to last year's tight and confusing course at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. The venue wasn't ideal for spectators, however, with much of the course hidden from view on the main grandstands. For members of the media such as ourselves, photographing the event was nearly impossible as well, with high fencing blocking nearly every good view.

Even so, the drives put on quite a show for those watching at home on television. With so many talented drivers in so many fast cars, entertaining matchups were inevitable. Click through the jump to read more and watch the wacky action in some X Games-provided videos.

Continue reading X Games 17 brings RallyCross to the streets of L.A. [spoilers w/video]

X Games 17 brings RallyCross to the streets of L.A. [spoilers w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian deeganespnfeaturedfiestafordliam doranrally car racingrallycrosssubarutanner fousttravis+pastranatravis+pastrana+x+games+2011travispastranatravispastranaxgames2011wrxx gamesx games 17x games rally car racingx games rallycrossx+games+17+rallyx+games+2011+rallycrossxgames17rallyxgames2011rallycrossMon, 01 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20005601/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/01/x-games-17-brings-rallycross-to-the-streets-of-l-a-spoilers-w/20005601/article-detail.xml 20005601 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/x-games-17-rallycross_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/x-games-17-rallycross.jpg <![CDATA[We ride shotgun as Marcus Grönholm practices for X Games 17 [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/29/we-ride-shotgun-as-marcus-gronholm-practices-for-x-games-17-w-v/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/29/we-ride-shotgun-as-marcus-gronholm-practices-for-x-games-17-w-v/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/29/we-ride-shotgun-as-marcus-gronholm-practices-for-x-games-17-w-v/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ford Fiesta RallyCross

The El Toro Marine Base in Irvine, CA has become somewhat of a quasi West Coast testing ground for the automotive industry in the past several years. Currently, it's perhaps best known for being the site of the Top Gear USA test track, but we've attended media events, learned how to drift, and watched a variety of manufacturers test out their wares on the military compound's abandoned runways.

Most recently, Ford turned the strips of tarmac into a replica of the X Games 17 RallyCross course and brought out two-time WRC champ Marcus Grönholm and Moto-X-legend-turned-rally-driver Brian Deegan for a practice session ahead of this weekend's main event. Lucky for us, they also asked us to tag along with the enticing offer of a shotgun seat in a 575-horsepower all-wheel drive Fiesta racecar. Count us in.

Click through the jump to continue reading...

Continue reading We ride shotgun as Marcus Grönholm practices for X Games 17 [w/video]

We ride shotgun as Marcus Grönholm practices for X Games 17 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian deeganespn x gamesfeaturedfiestafordgrönholmgronholmmarcus gronholmrallycrosstanner foustvideox gamesx games 17x games rallycrossFri, 29 Jul 2011 19:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20002878/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/29/we-ride-shotgun-as-marcus-gronholm-practices-for-x-games-17-w-v/20002878/article-detail.xml 20002878 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/x-games-rallycross-preview-2011_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/x-games-rallycross-preview-2011.jpg <![CDATA[Ford launching Octane Academy with Ken Block, Tanner Faust]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/14/ford-launching-octane-academy-with-ken-block-tanner-faust/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/14/ford-launching-octane-academy-with-ken-block-tanner-faust/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/14/ford-launching-octane-academy-with-ken-block-tanner-faust/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Octane Academy

If you're one of the hordes of internet citizens who watch videos of Ken Block, Tanner Foust, Brian Deegan or Vaughn Gittin Jr. perform various acts of insanity from behind the wheel and think you can do better, Ford is giving you the chance to prove it. The automaker has just unveiled its new Octane Academy, which will pair fans up with their favorite maniacal driver for a little on-track training.

If you want a shot at jumping into the fray, all you need to do is work up a video that shows why you're better than the rest and fit for a weekend of challenges. Contest winners will be selected to compete against other horsepower-obsessed entrants before a final champion is selected. Those who beat out the rest on their respective team will take home big prizes, including a specially-designed vehicle penned by Block, Foust, Gittin Jr. or Deegan.

The first camp gets underway in November of 2011, and the contest is currently open and awaiting your video submission. Head over to Octane Academy for more information and check out the video and press release after the jump.

Continue reading Ford launching Octane Academy with Ken Block, Tanner Faust

Ford launching Octane Academy with Ken Block, Tanner Faust originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian deeganfordford octane academyken blockoctane academytanner foustthe octane academyVaughn Gittin Jr.Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19991487/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/14/ford-launching-octane-academy-with-ken-block-tanner-faust/19991487/article-detail.xml 19991487 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/octane-academy_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/octane-academy.jpg <![CDATA[Brian Deegan of Metal Mulisha to drive for Ford Motorsports]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/13/brian-deegan-of-metal-mulisha-to-drive-for-ford-motorsports/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/13/brian-deegan-of-metal-mulisha-to-drive-for-ford-motorsports/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/13/brian-deegan-of-metal-mulisha-to-drive-for-ford-motorsports/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Brian Deegan Ford MotorsportsBrian Deegan made his name as the scabby, dirtbike-jockeying leader of freestyle motocross's Metal Mulisha. Over a 17-year career, Deegan has participated in every Summer X-Games so far, and broken most of the bones in his body. Now, he's signed a deal with Ford Motorsports to race a Ford Fiesta in the Global RallyCross Championship and at this year's Summer X-Games, and take on the Lucas Oil Off Road Series in a Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. [Source: Ford Motorsports]

Continue reading Brian Deegan of Metal Mulisha to drive for Ford Motorsports

Brian Deegan of Metal Mulisha to drive for Ford Motorsports originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian deegandeeganf-150 raptorfiestafordford motorsportsglobal rallycrosslucas oil off-road seriesmotorsportsWed, 13 Apr 2011 08:43:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19910857/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/13/brian-deegan-of-metal-mulisha-to-drive-for-ford-motorsports/19910857/article-detail.xml 19910857 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/deegan_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/deegan.jpg <![CDATA[X Games 16 Rally offers up plenty of high, lows, and double gold]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/01/x-games-16-rally-offers-up-plenty-of-high-lows-and-double-gold/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/01/x-games-16-rally-offers-up-plenty-of-high-lows-and-double-gold/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/01/x-games-16-rally-offers-up-plenty-of-high-lows-and-double-gold/#commentsFiled under:

X Games 16 SuperRally - Click above for high-res image gallery

Race day for the X Games rally car action started out much like the practice sessions had begun the day before - with plenty of frustration. The drivers finally figured out how to deal with the steep drop-off in the dirt portion of the track that led back into the L.A. Coliseum, but a new challenge presented itself. The course layout for the rally racing portion of the event was designed with some very tight turns. So tight, in fact, that after a few practice laps only a handful of drivers could actually make it around the course without having to execute a three-point turn.

Much of the morning saw drivers working with course officials to create a course that the cars could actually drive on. After a few different configurations were tried, one was found, but at that point there wasn't any time left for practice. Essentially, the drivers would be competing on a course that they had never driven on. Would that result in excitement, chaos or both? Follow the jump to find out.


Gallery: X Games 16 Rally Car Racing


Gallery: X Games 16 SuperRally


Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading X Games 16 Rally offers up plenty of high, lows, and double gold

X Games 16 Rally offers up plenty of high, lows, and double gold originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Aug 2010 20:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian deeganBrianDeeganken blockKenBlocksamuel hubinetteSamuelHubinettetanner foustTannerFousttravis pastranaTravisPastranax gamesx games 16x games 16 rally racingx games 16 superrallyx games rally car racingx games superrallyXGamesXGames16XGames16RallyRacingXGames16SuperrallyXGamesRallyCarRacingXGamesSuperrallySun, 01 Aug 2010 20:05:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19576352/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/08/01/x-games-16-rally-offers-up-plenty-of-high-lows-and-double-gold/19576352/article-detail.xml 19576352 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/lead1xgames16superrally_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/lead1xgames16superrally.jpg <![CDATA[Ford Fiestas set to break up Subaru's party at X Games 15]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/ford-fiestas-set-to-break-up-the-subaru-party-at-x-games-15/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/ford-fiestas-set-to-break-up-the-subaru-party-at-x-games-15/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/ford-fiestas-set-to-break-up-the-subaru-party-at-x-games-15/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Ford Fiesta X Games Preview - Click above for a high-res image gallery

The first three X Games Rally competitions have been dominated by Subaru, with most of the drivers picking the WRX STi as their vehicle of choice. Ford is determined to change that, and is making its X Games debut with a trio of Fiesta rally cars prepared by Olsberg Motor Sport Evolution, the same team that ran the Fiesta duo at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb earlier this month. Piloting the rally cars will be a stellar lineup of drivers including Tanner Foust, a two-time X games medalist in the rally event, Kenny Brack, winner of the 1999 Indy 500, and X Games Motocross veteran Brian Deegan.

We caught up with the three cars yesterday at the El Toro Marine base in Irvine, CA, where the drivers were doing practice runs up and down the abandoned air strips. Each seemed to be coming to grips with the power of their cars, all shod with grippy BFGoodrich g-Force Rally tires, and even the experienced Foust called the Fiesta Rallycross an "angry little beast." Still, we have no doubt that they'll have the cars mastered by Thursday's practice sessions, and we wouldn't be surprised to see any of the Fiestas in the final race on Sunday.

Highlights of the X Games Rally can be viewed on ESPN and ESPN 2 starting July 30, and the final will be aired live on ABC on August 2nd from 3:00-6:00 pm EST. You can read more about the Fiesta Rallycross in the press release after the jump, and check out our gallery of yesterday's practice session below.


Gallery: Ford Fiesta Rallycross X Games Preview


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Ford Fiestas set to break up Subaru's party at X Games 15

Ford Fiestas set to break up Subaru's party at X Games 15 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 X Games2009XGames2011 Ford Fiesta2011FordFiestaBrian DeeganBrianDeeganFiestaFordford fiestaFord Fiesta Rally CarFord Fiesta RallycrossFordFiestaFordFiestaRallyCarFordFiestaRallycrossKenny BrackKennyBrackTanner FoustTannerFoustX GamesX Games 15XGamesXGames15Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19112050/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/07/29/ford-fiestas-set-to-break-up-the-subaru-party-at-x-games-15/19112050/article-detail.xml 19112050 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/fiestaxgamespreview_lead_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/fiestaxgamespreview_lead.jpg <![CDATA[Ford attacking X Games with star-studded trio of Fiesta rally cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/ford-attacking-x-games-with-star-studded-trio-of-fiesta-rally-ca/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/ford-attacking-x-games-with-star-studded-trio-of-fiesta-rally-ca/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/ford-attacking-x-games-with-star-studded-trio-of-fiesta-rally-ca/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Tanner Foust's 2009 Olsbergs MSE ROCKSTAR Ford Fiesta - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford knows better than most that the way into an American car buyer's heart is through motor racing, so the latest step in Ford's North American "Fiesta Movement" is the deployment of the compact hatchback which we've driven and enjoyed on several occasions on America's most popular rally circuits.

Following its entry in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Ford will be fielding a team of rally-prepped Fiestas in the upcoming X Games, the 15th running of the famous stunt competition and the first time Ford will participate. Piloting a trio of Fiestas prepared by the same Swedish MSE outfit that created Marcus Gronholm's rallycross car will be a star-studded line-up comprised of drift champion Tanner Foust, ten-time X Games medalist Brian Deegan and former Indy champion Kenny Brack. With that much talent behind the wheel, we'll look forward to the Fiesta Movement getting into motion at the games running in Los Angeles from July 30 to August 2. Details are available in the press release below the fold and a pair of sketches of the X Games Fiestas can be found in the gallery below.


Gallery: 2009 X Games Ford Fiestas

Continue reading Ford attacking X Games with star-studded trio of Fiesta rally cars

Ford attacking X Games with star-studded trio of Fiesta rally cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian deeganBrianDeeganfiestafiesta movementFiestaMovementford fiestaFordFiestafoustkenny brackKennyBrackmseolsbergspikes peakPikesPeaktanner foustTannerFoustx gamesXGamesThu, 02 Jul 2009 16:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19084013/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/07/02/ford-attacking-x-games-with-star-studded-trio-of-fiesta-rally-ca/19084013/article-detail.xml 19084013 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/olsbergrs_xgames_fiesta_web_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/olsbergrs_xgames_fiesta_web.jpg -1 2