Autoblog

Global Rallycross announces Lites class for up and coming stars [w/videos]

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hatchback, Racing

After two years in the US running just one class of car, the Supercars, Global Rallycross (GRC) is adding a SuperCar Lites class that will run spec cars. Intended to be a development formula for the "next generation of star drivers," the Lites will race at all five US races this year on the same course as the Supercars, and with a format similar to the top class: a 60-minute free practice, 30-minute qualifying, heats, with Last Chance Qualifier and Finals run just before the main Supercar events. Standings will be divided into overall and a Lites Rookie Cup for first-time racers who haven't yet completed a full season.

They'll be driving a Ford Fiesta ST prepped by Olsbergs MSE, a Swedish builder that supplies four of the 20 GRC teams including two-time champion Tanner Foust. They have 310 horsepower compared to 600 hp in the Supercars, all-wheel drive and a six-speed sequential transmission. Ordered directly from Olsbergs, they'll run you $165,000 if you're one of the first ten teams to purchase one, after that they'll be $185,000.

The overall Lites-class winner gets a Supercar drive with Olsbergs MSE in the year-ending Rallycross Battle of the Champs, the top three finishers get Supercar tests like the Young Driver Test in Formula One held at the end of the season. There's a press release below with more info as well as a two videos of Geoff Sykes and Tanner Whitten testing the Lites car earlier this year.

Continue reading Global Rallycross announces Lites class for up and coming stars [w/videos]

Global Rallycross announces Lites class for up and coming stars [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 May 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford reveals Fiesta ST race car, points at road ahead for bigger things in Global RallyCross

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hatchback, Ford, Racing

The 2014 Ford Fiesta ST doesn't go on sale until this summer, but fans of Global RallyCross will be able to catch the car in action before then. Announced ahead of the Chicago Auto Show, the Fiesta ST will be the car run by Ford GRC teams this season, and the model on display in Chicago will be the racecar built by Swedish tuner OlsbergsMSE driven by Tanner Foust and Brian Deegan. Ken Block and his newly renamed Hoonigan Racing Division will also be competing in the Fiesta ST.

The 2013 GRC season has not been announced yet, but the venues will also include the summer X Games events in Brazil, Spain, Germany and, of course, Los Angeles. Ford announced that it will be the sole automotive sponsor of this year's summer X Games, and it will be looking to bring home a gold medal this year after Block placed silver last year.

In other Ken Block- and Ford-related news, another Chicago debut will be a tuned Focus ST called the TrackSTer project. Built in cooperation with Block, Ford and automotive tuner fifteen52, the TrackSTer will get plenty of styling, performance and handling upgrades. Some of the add-ons include a performance exhaust and short-throw shifter from Ford Racing, a rebuilt engine, upgraded components such as the limited-slip differential, intercooler, engine controller and clutch as well as upgraded brakes.

Scroll down for press releases on both the GRC Fiesta ST and the TrackSTer project.

Continue reading Ford reveals Fiesta ST race car, points at road ahead for bigger things in Global RallyCross

Ford reveals Fiesta ST race car, points at road ahead for bigger things in Global RallyCross originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ken Block won't let a little in-cabin fire slow him down

George Kennedy — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, SEMA Show, Performance, Safety, Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Racing

Say you're driving along, minding your own business and smoke starts rising from the hood of your car - you're going to pull over, right? Well if you are the master of Gymkhana, Ken Block, it's never that simple.

The drift-happy racer was competing at a Global RallyCross event at SEMA when things got a little hazy in the cockpit of the heavily modified Ford Fiesta rally car. Block was in the lead, and as one might do when leading a race, he ignored the smoke billowing from beneath the shifter. Three laps into the race, and the smoke persisted, but hey there was driving to be done! Finally, flames erupted, but Block was still not phased. This from the Hoonigan YouTube page:

"After qualifying first, winning each of his heats and leading the first 5 laps at Global Rally Cross SEMA, Ken Block was forced to DNF due to a FIRE in his cockpit. But before retiring Block drove the piss out of his Ford Fiesta HFHV despite the smoke, and flames. Why you ask... Cause, like any good Hoonigan, dude AIN'T CARE!!!"

Our takeaway from this mishap is that Block remains unsettlingly cool, and only after stuff starts melting and falling over does it appear that Block becomes alarmed at all. They say racers need ice water pumping through their veins, but that doesn't make you fireproof, so we're glad Block is alright. To see all the vehicular carnage, check out the video below.

Continue reading Ken Block won't let a little in-cabin fire slow him down

Ken Block won't let a little in-cabin fire slow him down originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch David Binks crash his Rallycross Ford Fiesta end-over-end during practice

Jeffrey N. Ross — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Ford, Racing

With the final race of the 2012 Global RallyCross season taking place today outside the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, teams were on the track yesterday for practice. During the practice session, David Binks crashed his Ford Fiesta, and he was taken to the hospital for precautionary measures but later released with only minor bruising.

On his first attempt at the jump, Binks' Fiesta came up short on the landing, resulting in a spectacular end-over-end crash. The car flipped two and a half times before landing on its roof, but Binks was able to get out of the car by himself. It could have been worse, though, since this crash looks very similar to Toomas Heikkinen's X Games crash back in June. While that jump was made out of steel, the jump at SEMA was made out of dirt, a much more forgiving material on initial impact.

Bink's team is working to try to get the car repaired for tonight's race, but it sounds like the damage is pretty extensive. The race airs tonight on ESPN2 at 8:30 ET/5:30 PT.

Scroll down to watch video of the crash and read an official statement from Best Buy Racing regarding the crash.

Continue reading Watch David Binks crash his Rallycross Ford Fiesta end-over-end during practice

Watch David Binks crash his Rallycross Ford Fiesta end-over-end during practice originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Think Rally and Rallycross are similar? Ken Block's car begs to differ

Jeffrey N. Ross — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Racing

If you've ever wondered about the "hybrid" in Ken Block's Ford Fiesta H.F.H.V. (Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle), then this video is definitely worth watching. After winning the Olympus Rally near Shelton, Washington, Block's Fiesta headed to Las Vegas for the fifth round of Global Rallycross (GRC). The same car is used in both racing series. As you'd imagine, racing on narrow dirt back roads Washington is very different than running on the mostly paved course at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Aside from the chassis and most of the body components, the Ford Fiesta that raced on Sunday September 23 is almost completely different from the car that practiced on Thursday September 26. The entire powertrain gets swapped in favor of a setup making over 600 horsepower, and the front-mounted radiator is moved aft for the GRC event. To ensure proper air flow to it, different side vents and a vented liftgate are installed. The GRC car also gets bigger brakes and the proper wheel/tire combo. After three days of disassembly and reassembly, this Fiesta is ready for Rallycross.

Sure, it'd probably be easier to just have a second, dedicated GRC car, but where's the fun in that? Scroll down to watch the video of what it takes to transform Block's Fiesta from a gravel-spewing Rally America car to a ramp-jumping Global Rallycross car.

Continue reading Think Rally and Rallycross are similar? Ken Block's car begs to differ

Think Rally and Rallycross are similar? Ken Block's car begs to differ originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Oct 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DirtFish Rally School draws the ire of neighbors

Zach Bowman — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Government/Legal

Unless you suffer from the kind of neurological defect that causes you to turn into a grinning fool every time you hear an engine bounce off of its limiter, you might not be entirely happy to have a rally school set up shop next door. DirtFish Rally School in Snoqualmie, Washington has made a name for itself as one of the best venues in the country to learn your way around a steering wheel, but according to The Sno Valley Star, not everyone's thrilled with the institution's success.

Local residents have complained of noise from both cars and the school's PA system after DirtFish recently hosted the Global RallyCross for ESPN. The school obtained a special two-day permit from local authorities for the event.

DirtFish president Ross Bentley said that the event was within the county's noise limits, and that all operations had ceased by 6 p.m. the evening of the RallyCross. Most days, events wrap up at 5 p.m. or earlier. Legitimate problem or much ado about nothing? Feel free to sound off (pun sadly intended...) in the Comments.

[Source: Sno Valley Star]

DirtFish Rally School draws the ire of neighbors originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brian Deegan of Metal Mulisha to drive for Ford Motorsports

Aaron Richardson — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:43:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Ford, Racing

Brian 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.

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