Ken Block in the WRC

2point5RS_Dan

2point5RS_Dan

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

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.
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I foresee him bringing many more fans and interest into the WRC.

 
Blasphemor!!!! Ken block is awsome but driving a ford, pfft, especially a ford car. At least the 2009 and 2010 model years seem to have benifitted from ford becoming the only competitive american auto company left standing after the recession.

 
I love the growth of rally, especially here in the United States, but I would rather have Block stay competing in Rally America. I think that the best result out of this for fans like us is an WRC event here in America someday...

 
Blasphemor!!!! Ken block is awsome but driving a ford, pfft, especially a ford car. At least the 2009 and 2010 model years seem to have benifitted from ford becoming the only competitive american auto company left standing after the recession.
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Sorry mate, but Subaru doesn't hold a candle to Ford products released in other parts of the world.

 
I'm with Ty Ty. Rest of the world Ford products are AWESOME. Also, if some forgot, Subaru doesn't actually participate in the WRC anymore. They do have involvement in PWRC in someway, but not full on WRC.

 
I didn't know, I don't follow WRC. But I have been to the New England Forest Rally and I watched Ken Block race, stood no less than 3 feet from the roadside in a corner near the finnish as he went by doing at least 60mph, maybe more like 80mph. I don't want to see him driving anything else. I have driven several fords, if they release better vehicles elsewhere then its no wonder they are losing market share, what they do release here blows goats. I use to have a Mercury Sable about 7 years ago, I hated that car. I have never seen a ford car that I liked. Even thier European Focus that has a turbo 5 cyl. engine and has monster torque steer. I read all about it but I don't remember the specs, it wasn't as fast as a WRX despite having something like 100hp on the STI. They could at least build a performance vehicle with AWD and an inline motor.

 
I didn't know, I don't follow WRC. But I have been to the New England Forest Rally and I watched Ken Block race, stood no less than 3 feet from the roadside in a corner near the finnish as he went by doing at least 60mph, maybe more like 80mph. I don't want to see him driving anything else. I have driven several fords, if they release better vehicles elsewhere then its no wonder they are losing market share, what they do release here blows goats. I use to have a Mercury Sable about 7 years ago, I hated that car. I have never seen a ford car that I liked. Even thier European Focus that has a turbo 5 cyl. engine and has monster torque steer. I read all about it but I don't remember the specs, it wasn't as fast as a WRX despite having something like 100hp on the STI. They could at least build a performance vehicle with AWD and an inline motor.
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lolz ford focus rs is nasty I have been in one in europe... sick!

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when is the last time Subaru won a manufactures title in the WRC?

and how about Ford?

the RS is a much more capable rally car than subaru is currently. period.

id like to see more of Ken in the MKII Escort he has. that would be nice
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although he will not be with Subaru from what I gather, if the sport grows and becomes more accessible, I think that it will be good, nice find

 
Maybe if there's enough of a response from America, the FIA would consider holding a round in America. I know that back in 2001 Cherokee Trails? Rally in Tennessee was under official FIA observation as a potential future FIA round. Even though the current WRC is a joke compared to what it was a couple years ago, I'd still attend the event.

Of course, the FIA being what it is, it's doubtful that America will get an event. I think a big problem with having an event here is that only one of the two factory teams actually sells cars here, and even a homologated version of the Focus RS WRC isn't sold here...

 
Maybe if there's enough of a response from America, the FIA would consider holding a round in America. I know that back in 2001 Cherokee Trails? Rally in Tennessee was under official FIA observation as a potential future FIA round. Even though the current WRC is a joke compared to what it was a couple years ago, I'd still attend the event.Of course, the FIA being what it is, it's doubtful that America will get an event. I think a big problem with having an event here is that only one of the two factory teams actually sells cars here, and even a homologated version of the Focus RS WRC isn't sold here...
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true true, we will have to see how it plays out

 
Ford being better means that Subaru must be working on something to beat them. That's just how these things roll.

 
Eh. Ford and Subaru have gone seperate ways with their stuff. The current gen STi was originally designed to be more competitive in the WRC due to the better aero properties of the hatch design, and the slightly shorter wheelbase. But once Subaru decided to pull out of top level WRC, development stopped on building a top level WRC contender. Ford kept in with the factory support on the WRC teams.

If you want I could give you a billion reasons as to why they're not competing with one another anymore, but I doubt anyone wants to hear my spiel. It will contain citations from FIA regulations, so that should be an extra deterrent.
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The current gen STi was originally designed to be more competitive in the WRC due to the better aero properties of the hatch design, and the slightly shorter wheelbase.
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disagree.

two door hatch models are the current spec for the top level teams.

Citroen C4, Ford Focus, Skoda, Peugeot, all were 2 door models. Subie and Mitsu were the last of the Giants to keep the 4 door "saloon" or sedan.

 
disagree.
two door hatch models are the current spec for the top level teams.

Citroen C4, Ford Focus, Skoda, Peugeot, all were 2 door models. Subie and Mitsu were the last of the Giants to keep the 4 door "saloon" or sedan.
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I agree with this, but I also don't see Subaru making a 2 door STi hatch. 2 door hatch is the way to go for sure, but I believe that overall a 4 door hatch would have been the best compromise. It has better aero, but it's also more usuable where it's a 4 door. Instead of homologating a special low production 2 door hatch STi, they just went with 4 doors.

 
I agree with this, but I also don't see Subaru making a 2 door STi hatch. 2 door hatch is the way to go for sure, but I believe that overall a 4 door hatch would have been the best compromise. It has better aero, but it's also more usuable where it's a 4 door. Instead of homologating a special low production 2 door hatch STi, they just went with 4 doors.
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this is the point where if i were feeling more creative i would link the other thread where we were talking about the NEW Toyota/Subaru 2 door project

turbo awd 2 door subaru? sounds like a great idea to me.

 
this is the point where if i were feeling more creative i would link the other thread where we were talking about the NEW Toyota/Subaru 2 door project
turbo awd 2 door subaru? sounds like a great idea to me.
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Actually, the Toyota version is RWD... Not sure about the Sube version tho.

 
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