WIN OR FAIL: KEN BLOCK'S 2010 YEAR REVIEW. VIDEO INSIDE!
It’s been a long, crazy, flat-out year. On January 6th, 2010, Ken Block announced his plan to campaign in the World Rally Championship, while continuing to race every round on the Rally America calendar. But the biggest news was that he’d be doing it all in a Ford under the newly formed Monster World Rally Team. The year—as shown in DC’s newly released Win or Fail? highlight video—was a mix of ups and downs, amazing feats and gutting defeats, but all in all, a hell of a good time.
“This was one of the toughest years of my life and easily my toughest season ever in a rally car,” says Block. “At points it seemed like without bad luck, we had no luck at all. From being plagued with mechanical issues in Rally America to hitting hidden, control-arm-cracking tree stumps in the WRC, it was often hard to find the bright side of things. But with that said, 2010 was still one of my best years ever. Racing in the WRC was always a dream for me, and not only being able to do so, but being able to keep pace with some veteran drivers was a real accomplishment.”
Block’s new program brought with it new challenges, including adapting to three new vehicles. And, despite the four out of six mechanical DNFs in Rally America, along with a few mechanical issues that hampered three possible WRC top 10 finishes for Ken Block and his co-driver Alex Gelsomino, 2010 had its shining moments for the Monster World Rally Team.
“In Mexico, it was anyone’s guess how Ken would stack up against the WRC drivers,” says team manger Derek Dauncey. “Since the American championship is a bit removed from the WRC and global rally, we were all uncertain where the pace would situate us, but after Ken’s first stage, where he was 9th fastest, we knew we had a WRC driver in the making. Throughout that event Ken continued to impress with formidable stage and split times.”
The following month Block continued to impress at WRC Turkey by setting three sixth fastest stage times, and again in Portugal by matching Super Special stage times with former Formula One champion Kimi Räikkönen on a tarmac course. But lack of experience in pacenote writing for Block and Gelsomino resulted in a few offs that kept the two from securing their first WRC points until WRC Spain—thus making Block the second American to ever score points in the WRC. But, most impressive was Block’s ability to stay within striking distance of the top 5 drivers. Proving on gravel the ability to stay as close as 1 sec/km off the leaders, and 1.4 sec/km on tarmac was a real accomplishment considering that 2010 was Block’s first year driving a WRC car and also his first time really competing on sealed surfaces.
“Overall, this season was a huge success for us,” says Block. “We set out, focused on development, and that’s exactly what we did. We now know better where we need to improve, and I am stoked to continue my development throughout the 2011 season. I know full well, you don’t just become a top level WRC driver overnight… Luckily, the road getting there is quite fun.”
2010 turned out to be the biggest and most exciting year for Ken Block's rally career. Becoming the first American to enter the World Rally Championship, Block took the motorsport world by storm by adding a full Rally America season, filming Gymkhana THREE, the Gymkhana GRID series, and more to his plate.
It wasn't easy road, with a year full of mechanical issues and other setbacks. But Block filled it with enough win to make his name known - dropping into the history books of rally racing, and having one hell of a good time doing it.
Song: Don't Slow Down By Matt & Kim
(Rally Mexico, March 2010) On Ken Blocks’ first ever stage in the WRC he set the 9th fastest time (SS1 Alfaro 1).
(Rally of Turkey, April 2010) During the Rally of Turkey, Block secured three sixth place overall stage finishes (SS10 Gocbeyli 1, SS22 Mudarli 2, SS23 Ballica 2), as well as being 1.1-seconds per KM off of Sébastien Ogier’s stage winning time on Turkey’s SS23.Additionally, Block was only 1.6-seconds per KM off of seven time World Champion Sébastien Loeb’s time on Turkey’s SS14.
(Rally de Portugal, May 2010) In Portugal, Block tied 2007 Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen on the event’s Estadio Algarve Super Special stage
(Rallye de France, October 2010) During the WRC’s stop in France, Block won the Abu Dhabi “Spirit of the Rally” award for his perseverance after numerous mechanical issues during the event.
(Rally de España, October 2010) While holding off Citroen driver Sébastien Ogier at his third-ever WRC tarmac round, Block became the second American to ever score points in the World Rally Championship.
(Wales Rally GB, November 2010) At the WRC’s final stop, Block put down two 7th place overall stage finishes on Rally GB’s famed Margam Park 1 and 2 stages.
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