30 October 2009 - 12:00
Video: Block and load
As we reported a couple of weeks ago, Gymkhana hero Ken Block will race for Ford in the WRC next year.
This is good news... unless you're James May, who is currently refusing to answer his phone in case Mr Block is on the look-out for a co-driver.
If you're wondering how he'll will fare against the likes of Sebastien ‘Driving God' Loeb, Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala, take a look at this clip of the Blockster in action, breaking his own stage record at the New England Forest Rally in his Impreza STI.
It is, as the Welsh say, proper tidy. We love the quad headlights peeking out above the bonnet, too.
So, on the basis of this evidence, do you think Block is quick enough to challenge Super Seb in the WRC? Thoughts please. And roll on 2010...
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He's definitely a sportsman as well, but he'll need to take less chances than he usually does. He can wreck out of a stage going for broke
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He should be good, but not a challenge to the top ranking drivers.
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I was out in the stages for rally GB and seeing the way that loeb and hirvonen could go full on balls out fast over some of those crests and narrow corners i don't think that mr block could touch them, even if he was in a more competitive car than a scooby.
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Well first he'll need to get used to a non-Subaru, which may or may not be tricky. Then he will need to sharpen his skills on dirt rather than on a runway full of cones, becuase he needs to get used to all sorts of surfaces, rather than just American dirt - loose, slippy, snow & ice - (although I don't know how many of those he'll have come across in Rally America). He won't be instantly dominant, but give him a few years and he'll be up there at the top. Once Monsieur Loeb retires.
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Looked like he could've gone way faster there. I think he was a bit too careful through some corners and looked like he really was gentle on the throttle. In my opinion he's got a lot to learn and really don't think he'll be on the same level as top 3 drivers in WRC rallying today. It'll most probably be like this year, Loeb and Hirvonen in the front, then loads of minutes and then all the others, including mr Block.
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Although I respect Block for his awsome videos, he isn't gping to make it in WRC. He can't even make it in America with the likes of Pastrana, Macin and Mirra beating him in the American Rally Championship, and there aren't any Americans in the WRC, so I can't ever seeing him causing any trouble for the French and Finn. Good luck though, I want to see more competitors in the WRC.
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"So, on the basis of this evidence, do you think Block is quick enough to challenge Super Seb in the WRC?" One word: NO!! As KMTV mentioned, he is a showman not a sportsman and not a great showman either (since most showmen can drive without crashing as he did in the practice vid on here and on TV) . The way he drove that stage was poor. Beating your own record is nothing: I could do that by driving at 11mph not the 10 i did the year before! He was WAY to sideways which as Latvola has shown isnt quick. Way to fast into courners and then slow out. Im not saying i could do it but he is just not anywhere near good enough for the WRC, yet alone challenge super seb. "And roll on 2010... " Oh yes! Might be more crashes with this guy racing!
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He's definitely quick, but im not so sure he's going to be quick enough to compete with the likes of Loeb, Hirvonen, Solberg or even Latvala at first as these guys have at least 'some' experience in the WRC - Ken has absolutely none. The WRC is (probably) much more different from Rallycross - which Ken is very familiar with - so he'll have to get comfortable the WRC very quickly to keep up with Loeb, Hirvonen (etc...) and that's not going to be easy. I hope Ken the best of luck, it going to be an interesting season. Bring it on!
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It is still a rumor according to him, but he did say he is keeping his options open. His contract with subaru ends at the end of the year but I think they are going to fight to keep him on board he is their second best driver in the Rally America series. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hEYze1tnVk If he does join WRC I believe it will take some time for him to adjust but in due time he probably can keep up with high ranking drivers.
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No chance in hell. He's a rich boy playing with his toys. All his videos that look so cool took many different takes to get the final video. I'm willing to bet that if Sebastian Loeb wanted to make a ken block type video he could do it in one or two takes not so many takes the asphalt is black with rubber. That on board footage looked like my grandma driving to the grocery store in comparison to the top drivers in WRC. It's a sad state the world of racing is in that rich boys with their toys can be compared to the best in the world.
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no.. not really no
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Ken drives a Group N car. It will be interesting to how he'll manage in WRC spec car. I know for a fact he will not be able keep up with Loeb, Hirvonen, Latvala, Sordo, Solberg and his own team mate, Chris Atkinson.
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The dude's 40, and a successful businessman. That's why Atko's in the team - now THERE'S a bloke who can keep the quick boys on their toes (provided he can keep it out of the trees).
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I don't think he'll do well in the first few races maybe even the season but i reckon once he gets the hang of it he'll be more than a match for the likes of Loeb and the other drivers. But all I can say is let battle commence
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and don't forget Blocks Impreza that he uses for his Gymkhana is putting out nearly 600bhp
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He certainly has the raw skill, but all the WRC drivers do, I think its more a case of can he learn to drive as fast as he's already learned to drive spectacularly.
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Ford wouldn't waste a car on him if they didn't think he was at least half-way quick. In this and other rally clips, he looks smooth and mistake-free - and there aren't as many works teams in the WRC as previously - so he should be on for points finishes. And there should be some great video compilations - good promo for WRC, which it could do with!
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Why doesn't TG love the 2009 STI? Sure goes like hell.
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Come On guys we dont all need to say the same thing. even thought it is more or less true. But there is no denying the man has got talent. it is clear in the video that at the beginning of the stage he is slowler . Slowly building up the balls and the confidence and closer to the end he is much faster than the beginning it is kinda like when you are in the mood to have some fun go on a long drive encounter a New twisty bit with slight visibility and you keep going faster after every corner getting used to how the car reacts what is the surface like you know just feeling the road up. But that is a little strange considering he has already done this stage before. So he would probably be in WRC in the beginning just to be consistent and finish races. Once he gets the hang of it he might start making a niche for himself in some of the stages.
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The other drivers always drive within themselves, and only push their limits when they really need to step it up a few notches. Ken seems to always be on his limit. Think he will wreck more cars than he will win stages.
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Why dont Ford get Travis Pastrana. He's faster in the rally scene in america beat Ken a few times and won the Campionship
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1.He is American.Look at the stage there driving on,it looks like a motorway on gravel. 2.Why are European drivers so good at driving,because we do this ever day.And what do American drivers do ever day,they drive on 6 lane,strait motorways or any other road that are strait. 3.He will fail just like any other American driver who competed in a world or European championship,even if hi does this for 10 years he will achieve nothing.
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Id have to agree with Cortez122, that stage doesnt look very challanging, its wide and straight. And even then hes not pushing very hard, thats why its clean. Put him on that Irish stage you had up there a few days ago and see how he'd do on a tight twisty loose stage like that. Hes a good drifter, but thats about it.
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can i just say to cortez122 and 010010011010, you say americans cant drive like us europeans because they dont have the kind of rally tracks we have, well lads have you ever heard of pikes peak. a track even super seb regards as one of the hardest in the world. and on the ken block matter, he has great car control and a very smooth style, if you watch the video his style is reminisent of mcraee's. it dosent look all that impressive but it gets the job done. he may have a rough first season but ounce he gets to grips with it he could become one to watch. anyway super seb has become boring its like watching suchue in his hay day. you just get bored watching him always win. and start to enjoy the true battles happening down the grid. lets give block a chance he could bring some fun to an other wise boring and predectiable seb wins again and again and so on season.
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Loeb is not only a "Driving God" he is the best Driver I have ever seen. If he keeps getting a half competitive car then he will win. Having said that I am a big Block fan - let's face it North Americans rule. He won't beat Loeb but at least he won't be a sitting duck like Ford's, and Stobard's, current drivers. North Americans - which include Canadians - have a "will to win" that I so often find lacking in most European counterparts (Loeb and that German guy being the exception). Those that say that Americans can't drive know as much about History then I do about farming - which is nothing. Block will be another driver from "the other side of the pond" that is going to kick some Euro-trash ass.
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He's of course a great driver, but the top rally racing performance may be a bit far..... The biggest drivers in the world, cames from rallyes (Kimi Raikkonen in the "Rally della Marca" crashing his Grande Punto after a few special stages, and Loeb drove the Red Bull F1 car with such good results)......so...he may drift however you want, but he needs for faster eyes, faster reflex and so much experience....
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Give it up already. The man himself said he's not a patch on true WRC drivers. Ford takes him in solely because of publicity since the WRC is on lifesupport these days. Oh, and hondansx: 360, not 600. There's no group N car in the world that'd survive 600hp.
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There's no way he can challenge loeb or hirvonen. He's just too slow. Especially through the corners. Some people would like to see him on the wrc stage because of his videos, not because of his rally performances.
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Yes it maybe true that he is slower than the top driver's in the WRC but then again he maybe better than what we think. The WRC has the best driver's in the world over all forms of motorsport and anyone who can make it there has to be damb good, plus Ford wouldn't offer him a ride unless they believed he could do something. We all give our 10cents of input and put him down saying that he is a showmen but we got to relies non of us on this page could keep up with him even if he was in a 1.1Uno over the same track. He's got tallent no matter what anyone says......... Kent when you get the WRC ride next year, I really don't mind taking your Impreza STI off you haha Good luck.....
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the squeaky breaks at the beginning remind me of James`s Aston N24
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Great article and video thanks for sharing this with us.
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I LOVE rallying!!!!! I don't think there's many americans in the WRC so this will be a nice change. I wonder how well he'll do?
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Sorry to tell you this but the only reason why he is driving in the wrc next year is because he has the money... The only drivers that are paid to drive for their teams are Loeb, Hirvonen and Sordo... Everyone else has to bring money to the table before they get a drive... So its not a case of signing for a team (look at Rautenbach and Al Quassimi) Block is nothing more than your average rich guy having fun look at his RUBBISH times from the McRae stages a year ago! To try and compare him to the greatest rally driver of all tim FACT is utterly ridicules and whoever suggested it and whoever agreed should pick a new sport as they are clearly drunk or have NO idea about rallying!
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I could keep up with him by the way, you set it up and Ill go up against him ANY TIME!
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Any doubters should check out this video of Block thrashing a mkII escort around a tight course in Vermont. Give the man a chance, I would rather see him win than that bloody frenchie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQgmdHzqtqA
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Scottyboy83 : I do believe that Matthew Wilson and Henning Solberg are paid - by whom is another matter. Ogier is part paid by Citroen and part by the FFSA. But, You are completely correct. Ford have not given Block a ride as some have suggested, he's set up the team and is paying M-Sport to run it for him. I'm sure that if Subaru were still there he'd have a similar arrangement with Prodrive (as Adapta have done)
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I never actually said americans cant drive, although i argue that his smoothness in this video is because hes driving well within his limits, and slowly. Good point about pikes peaks, has Block ever gone up it? if so what was his time?
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Forget talk of his WRC chances. What I want to know is what the pic taken by the guy crouching on the apex of that left-hander looks like (ca. 4'24" into the video). I think he robbed KB of a hundredth.
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Guys, why don't you just sit back, wait and enjoy them thrashing around their cars?
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He has a lot to learn like anybody that starts in the wrc, the commitment level needed and not just on groomed roads he knows.Within time he might come good, but not in the first two years.
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he is very fast, I'm from America so i know, i think he is probably the best rally driver in the world, though has the Stig ever raced rally???
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all you folks dissing on him you do realize that the time he set was in a super production car right? Its basically a caged production car (IE, 35,000$ STI cage) with some basic gravel bits slapped on. Its a far cry from a million dollar WRC car. It just isn't going to look NEAR as fast as a WRC car, not gonna happen. I suspect he will have a year or so of learning the ropes, and possibly will have a real shot at competing with some of the WRC greats but not loeb, because loeb isn't human. In fact, loeb is so good and so fast its almost annoying. lol Don't under estimate the draw an american will have and Ken is a marketing machine. Motorsports are in a precarious position right now and the more people watching, the more fans, the more money. I wouldn't diss on him too much, he has a real chance at bringing alot more money into the sport, which is good for all of us.
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I Still cant accept the fact that Ken Block will be driving a Piece of crap Ford Focus!!!!! Im sure Block will be the best contender to beat Loeb
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Im considering not watching the WRC anymore and im sure the WRC will be losing alot of fans and money without Subaru and Mitsubishi. You Just cant beat top notch cars with the Citroen? Whats a Citroen? French garbage?
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if he got in there and kicked everyone's ass, would the world rally community find some respect for america or hate it even more?
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KMTV commented on this article
30 October 2009
Hmm, I wonder if he's more showman than sportsman. It'll be interesting to see how he handles a fully fledged WRC car up against the established drivers.
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