Ken Block has revealed the sense of frustration he felt when his crash in shakedown for Vodafone Rally de Portugal prevented him from starting the third round of the world championship last month.
The Monster World Rally Team star’s Ford Fiesta RS WRC was badly damaged in the multiple roll he suffered to the extent Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino were forced to withdraw before tackling a stage in anger.
Speaking to the Rally-America.com website, Block said: “It was very frustrating having done two days of recce and be ready to do event. I worked really hard on the pace notes and Alex obviously worked really hard too so to have it all blow up there on the shakedown stage is kind of silly. I hate the fact [it was because] of a horrible mistake.”
“The crash [has] kind of set me back because the testing we’d done was good, we’d set some good times in Mexico when the car was working and I felt we were moving somewhere.”
Although Block’s mechanics could ordinarily have repaired the damage, the car’s roll cage could not be fixed on site and technical officials from the FIA, motorsport’s world governing body, refused to let the car be used on the event.
“Both Alex and I were fine and you realise now just how incredibly well built these cars are and that all the regulations really do work - one of the impacts in the crash measured 16g,” said Block.
The American’s next scheduled WRC appearance is Rally Argentina at the end of May. Before then the Gymkhana star will become a father for the third time - his wife is due to give birth on 23 April.
“Having the time off in April was very strategic so before Argentina we have a big event to look forward to,” he said.
Credit: World Rally Championship (www.wrc.com)
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