Ken Block impresses with speed in Mexico

Wednesday, 09 March 2011 15:10

Ken Block’s renowned for his jaw-dropping hooning antics in his famous YouTube videos, but he’s also a driver with considerable rallying talent.

This was once more shown in Mexico this past weekend, his first repeat event of his nine-event WRC career.

The WRC attracts the world’s biggest stars, aspiring champions and larger-than-life personalities. Its 13-event calendar runs over vastly different terrain each weekend and, in doing so, is unmatched in its demanding challenges it throws up for both crews and machines. This American driver, however, is not afraid of taking on the rally establishment and treacherous speed tests with his unique style and attitude. With a year’s WRC experience behind him, and his second Rally Mexico under his belt, Block showed all in the Service Park that he’s capable of running as a regular top ten in the WRC.

Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino’s 2011 foray into the Mexican hills didn’t go according to plan, seeing them run into frustrating electrical issues on the start ramp before the event had officially been waved off. With the potential to finish in the top eight here, Block’s unfortunate luck saw them stumble through the weekend:

Block/Gelsomino were forced to restart under SupeRally regulations not once but twice. Consequently, Block was handed a hefty time penalty that ruled them out of the top ten. Another 20min was added to their overall time as a yet another mysterious electrical problem dropped them further down the leader board. The American’s never-say-die attitude saw him post an impressive series of stages times when his car’s electrical gremlins were under control.

In his attempt to reel in lost time and to post quicker stage times on a repeat stage on Day Two’s afternoon loop of speed tests, Block clipped a tree stump and it snapped a control arm to force him to retire once more from the event. He did however restart on Day Three under SupeRally rules.

“It’s hard not to focus on the mechanical issues we had this event, since without them, I would have likely had the best overall finish of my WRC career,” said Block. “But regardless, from a driving perspective, I am very happy with our times here compared to last year. This is the first event we have gone into with notes already prepared, giving us an advantage we haven’t had before. And with this only being our ninth WRC event ever, I feel confident on our continued development this season, when we are already showing on pace to be sixth or seventh overall.”

“WRC Mexico is one of the toughest events on the calendar, partly due to the high altitude’s effect on the engines and the rugged terrain, so despite the electrical issues that plagued the team this event, I am very happy with Ken and Alex’s performance here as well as their perseverance each morning to press on after all the problems,” said team manager Derek Dauncey. “Ken [Block] was consistently only 1.1-seconds per kilometre off of the fastest Ford driver and 1.3-seconds per kilometre off the top time on each stage, which is an excellent pace for a driver who hasn’t even completed a full season of events yet.”

The next WRC round for MWRT will be Vodafone Rally de Portugal, 24 – 27 March. Until then, follow Ken Block and the team at monsterworldrallyteam.com, facebook.com/KenBlockRacing and facebook.com/MonsterWorldRallyTeam. By Evan Rothman

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