ken blocks got a new toy
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To all intents and purposes its a fully fledged several hundread thousand pound rally car.
Bespoke motorsport 2.0 four cylinder, magnesium racing gearbox, anti lag etc..
Its what WRC cars would put out if they didnt have rules restricting how much power they make. He's essentially just told somebody to do their worst with it.
660lb/ft of torque at 4000rpm means its a serious piece of kit.
More info here
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=21838
Its a fire breating race car, with a fiesta bodyshell bolted on.
Unbelievable... seriously I am shocked at that.
Anything similar spec'd worth mentioning?
not really
if you spend £300,000 building a rally car, most restrict it to fit the regulations so they can race it, which means restricting the power to around 300bhp etc..
There arent many with the money to have a £300,000 rally car that isnt road legal just to race around old race tracks for fun.
Although having said that, old WRC cars do come up for sale. Most tend to be bought and raced in pro/amateur rally events and never see the road.
But just occasionally, somebody goes and converts one for the road..
http://www.evo.co.uk/videos/planetevovideos/252997/road_racers_group_test_part_2.html
Fast forward to 07:40 ish.
if you spend £300,000 building a rally car, most restrict it to fit the regulations so they can race it, which means restricting the power to around 300bhp etc..
There arent many with the money to have a £300,000 rally car that isnt road legal just to race around old race tracks for fun.
Although having said that, old WRC cars do come up for sale. Most tend to be bought and raced in pro/amateur rally events and never see the road.
But just occasionally, somebody goes and converts one for the road..
http://www.evo.co.uk/videos/planetevovideos/252997/road_racers_group_test_part_2.html
Fast forward to 07:40 ish.
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It can't be too far removed from a Rallycross car...
not many rallycross cars have such expensive components
You'll get 650bhp Evos and stuff, but it will just be a standard evo tuned up to the hilt, rather than the custom engine in Ken's fiesta. Wont have the same expensive fully sequential magnesium racing gearbox etc..
Rallycross cars cost tens of thousands, not hundreads.
Associate
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My gosh what I would give to be able to do that!
And what others have said, 1.9 seconds to 60!!!
And what others have said, 1.9 seconds to 60!!!
in comparison evo tested the '97 Impreza WRC i linked to above.
That managed 0-60 in 3.5 seconds with "only" 310bhp (estimated by prodrive) Short geared however, will only do 120mph. Suspect Ken's car will be the same. Theres no need for 160mph top speed in cars like this.
Not hard to imagine that more than doubling the horsepower could get the 0-60 down by 1.5 seconds.
That impreza is currently insured for £250,000
ouch !
That managed 0-60 in 3.5 seconds with "only" 310bhp (estimated by prodrive) Short geared however, will only do 120mph. Suspect Ken's car will be the same. Theres no need for 160mph top speed in cars like this.
Not hard to imagine that more than doubling the horsepower could get the 0-60 down by 1.5 seconds.
That impreza is currently insured for £250,000
ouch !
I was thinking a competitive Division one car, eg Pat Doran's Fiesta not some national spec Group N based Evo.
Last time I saw a classified in Autosport a good one was around €175k. They're usually good for 550+bhp, so it's not just a MoTec on your Mum's TDCi...
Pat Doran's fiesta uses a YB cosworth engine and an FFB gearbox so hardly the most exotic of things.
But i take your point, it isnt that far removed.
Caporegime
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While I do like watching these types of videos Ken Block virtually proved that he can't drive on anything unless it's a purpose built track that he knows inside out, he totally flopped when he tried his hand at big boy racing.
Still think the first one is the best one. At least this one wasn't as "slow-mo advertise my shoes" happy. Some impressive driving in parts, must have been pretty sketchy slamming the anchors on at speed round that banking (You can see how light the back end goes, sliding downhill)
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Old Group B Rally cars, although they were too busy going sideways to set a proper 0-60 most of the time
The other possibility would Gronholm on his Pikes Peak run last year, similar spec Fiesta with added Max Power wings, and added fire (The car apparently caught fire near the top and he just kept going)
Caporegime
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Ken block is awesome when it comes to Gymkhana, however he seems to suck when it comes to real rally driving.
It's an impressive party trick but thats about it.
It's an impressive party trick but thats about it.