Ken Block in WRC?

[Dangerous]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79442

Block lined up for WRC campaign

By David Evans Thursday, October 15th 2009, 11:00 GMT


American rally and extreme sports star Ken Block is close to a deal to join the World Rally Championship in a new Ford team, this week's AUTOSPORT magazine reveals.

Former Subaru driver Chris Atkinson has been lined up as Block's team-mate in the all-new Monster Energy Drink World Rally Team.

The three-year deal, which is likely to be agreed in the next month, would offer the World Rally Championship the chance to break into the all important North American market - a move seen as pivotal to the sport's development.

The deal, which is being brokered by Block's management team Wasserman Media Group, is reckoned to be one of the most significant in the sport's history.

WRC promoter Simon Long said: "Ken Block is an iconic figure in US motorsport and a major box office personality. It wouldn't get much better than this for the WRC going into North America."

Block is driving for the Monster-backed Subaru USA team in Rally America this season, but has never denied his ambition to compete at the highest level of the WRC.

If it is signed off, the programme will start next season. Block and Atkinson will contest around half of the WRC rounds in 2009-spec Ford Focus WRCs. The following year they would compete in the entire series.

Would be fun, though he'll crash out

 

[MikeHunt79]

Should be good to see, I doubt he'll back off over the crests!

 

[bledd]

the Bam Margera of WRC..

 

[MrSix]

What does this mean for his Gymkhana in the monster Subaru - he's ditched them totally?

 

[Skeeter]

What does this mean for his Gymkhana in the monster Subaru - he's ditched them totally?

Subaru arent in WRC, he wants into WRC, there aint much he can do but go to another team.

Shame though, a big name like this who looks to have single handedly helped the sale of the new Impreza in the US should have been enough for even a privateer Subaru team to come back to the WRC.

More Citroen vs Ford next year then

 

[thecremeegg]

Is it only 2 different manufacturers now then? What happened to Seat, Subaru, mistubishi, skoda etc?!

 

[Fr0dders]

recession

 

[Duke]

Could be interesting

 

[GingerNinja1989]

This could make it worth a watch - I haven't bothered since most of the manufacturers pulled out.

 

[Skeeter]

Is it only 2 different manufacturers now then? What happened to Seat, Subaru, mistubishi, skoda etc?!

Havnt watched much WRC over the last few years have you...

Mitsubishi havent been in it for a good 5 years. Skoda for a good 3 or 4, Seat never were were they? Or was that years ago, Suzuki launched a campaign but pulled out last year, and Subaru pulled out last year to.

Its now BP Ford, Stobart Ford, Munchis Ford, and a load of smaller/private Fords (all build by Malcom Wilson) against Citroen, Citroen Junior Team, and a load of smaller/private Citroen teams.

 

[benji182]

the Bam Margera of WRC..

was just what i was thinking.

 

[MrSix]

Subaru arent in WRC, he wants into WRC, there aint much he can do but go to another team.

Yeah, just meant will he still have his Subaru/DCshoes/Monster team as well?

 

[rypt]

This is not going to last long, for all his videos and so on he isn't the best of drivers.
He has yet to even win Rally USA, and crashed in 4 of the 9 rallies in 2008 and 5 out of the 8 rallies in 2009
Pastrana is the better driver of the two, but he doesn't have the same "media" interest in him.

 

[SoliD]

Yeah, just meant will he still have his Subaru/DCshoes/Monster team as well?

By the looks of that article he will bring the Monster/DC shoes sponsorship over with him onto the focus so will more likely just get focus gymkhanas instead.

 

["andy"]

the Bam Margera of WRC..

whats that supposed to mean ? he was surely known as a street skating great well before he started all his other rubbish ? infact he got the cash for doing his stunt stuff from skating

 

["andy"]

This is not going to last long, for all his videos and so on he isn't the best of drivers.
He has yet to even win Rally USA, and crashed in 4 of the 9 rallies in 2008 and 5 out of the 8 rallies in 2009
Pastrana is the better driver of the two, but he doesn't have the same "media" interest in him.

is pastrana really better than him ? he was awful last time i watched. watched him get made to look like a learner driver by colin mcrae in the xgames

 

[Skeeter]

is pastrana really better than him ? he was awful last time i watched. watched him get made to look like a learner driver by colin mcrae in the xgames

Um, yeah.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travis_Pastrana#Rally_America_results

1st, 2nd, 3rd, or DNF in every event in rally America... and in the X Games its been Gold, Bronze, Gold, Silver, beating McRae at least once...

Pastrana is by far the better driver between him and Block, but its not so much about being the best, its about what you can bring with you, and Ken Block can bring a shed load of sponsorship backing to fund a new team...

 

[Saytan]

is pastrana really better than him ? he was awful last time i watched. watched him get made to look like a learner driver by colin mcrae in the xgames

Colin on his game could do that to pretty much anyone...

 

[chrisd]

whats that supposed to mean ? he was surely known as a street skating great well before he started all his other rubbish ? infact he got the cash for doing his stunt stuff from skating

He made his money by founding a shoe company.

 

[rypt]

is pastrana really better than him ? he was awful last time i watched. watched him get made to look like a learner driver by colin mcrae in the xgames

Pastrana has won the past 4 years of Rally America, while Block has not won once yet - this is despite them having the same machinery (the prepped STi).
In fact this year block was 4th, despite the people beating him not having a machine as good as his.

Pastrana IS the better driver, but he's still not on the same page as McRae, Burns or Loeb.