Ken Block in Rally Mexico

We had a good discussion a month or so back about Ken Block and his new gig as a WRC driver. Some folks thought he'd suck, some folks (like me...) don't care if he sucks, some even think he'll be the next big thing.

His first WRC event as a driver for Ford is underway, so it's put up or shut up time for KB. How's he doing? At least the first day looks promising...

Live results from the WRC.

He did alright in 100AW as preparation too.

He seems to be doing alright thus far. Good for him.

I did not know Dr. Emilio Lizardo was Block's co-driver!

http://www.wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=300&featureid=1490&desc=Mexico%202010:%20Scare%20for%20Block

Also, I failed to see the "scare" in this vid.

Wow, that's good. Anyone know when this will be shown on HD theater? Just got a cable upgrade this morning, so I'm looking forward to watching. E-

The Ford site has streaming audio, don't know what they are covering, right now it's just blather.

http://www.wrcfordlive.com/?a=results

Thanks for that link.

My opinion of Ken has been getting better and better. I think he handled himself extremely well in interviews in the season preview show. I don't think he'll be competitive this year, but if he can manage top-10 spots and not ball up the car I'd say Mission Accomplished. Heck, that would probably make him faster than Matthew Wilson. According to that Ford site, Block is in 10th right now.

I'm a big Loeb fan, but I think I'll be rooting for Petter this year. He's just so much fun in an interview. There's no question about how he's feeling! I think he's got the ability to put some pressure on the Mikko/Sebastien show too. There could be some good racing this year.

I'm going to warn you all - the coverage of the Swedish rally on Motors TV was abysmal. I don't think the narrator had a script. I know who all these guys are and I was having trouble keeping track of what was happening. I didn't even bother watching the last two days, it was too painful. Hopefully it'll be better for Mexico and the other narrator will be back to sweeping floors or something.

alfadriver wrote: Anyone know when this will be shown on HD theater?

Looks like it will be shown March 18 - 19. With a 1/2 hour preview and 1/2 hour for Day 1 on the 18th and Days 2 and 3 on the 19th

Seems like they are showing it on Thurs/Fri about two weeks after the rally.

WOW, Petter Solberg is leading with Ogier in second? This rally must be wacked.

I'm a big Solberg fan, I like his driving and his personality. But it's nice to see a 'Murrican that high in the standings.

Maybe we aren't complete idiots after all.We did whoop serious ass at the Motocross des Nations with our 'B team' for a few years.

Block is doing way better than Kimi

Don't forget that if you can't wait for the TV (or don't have it, like me), you can get video highlights on the WRC site as well.

Here's their description of Day 2: http://wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=101&id=7125&desc=Rally+Mexico+-+Saturday%27s+stage+guide+

There's usually maps of the stages at the "Maps" link, but for some reason when I click it this time, I get a page stating that there are no maps for this round.

End of day 1, Ken is in 10th. He hit a rock pulled on course by another car on SS#6, that tripped the master switch and shut the car off, it took over a min to figure out what had happened and restart. He kissed a bank on the last super special and got a puncture. On his trouble free stages he was less than 2 sec's per kilometer off Petta!!! He's putting in times equal to Justin Wilson with what? 4 years of experience now!!! That's a hell of a good showing and should quiet the doubters.

Kimi is out after sliding wide braking for a corner, going off and edge and rolling 6 times. Crew fine but car too damaged to continue today under super rally rules.

Maybe Kimi should have stuck to pavement? (ducks and runs for cover)

Block had a suspension issue on the first stage of the morning. I believe he is out. Certainly did well up to the that point, as I think he had the 7th quickest split time on the stage prior to breaking.

sachilles wrote: Block had a suspension issue on the first stage of the morning. I believe he is out. Certainly did well up to the that point, as I think he had the 7th quickest split time on the stage prior to breaking.

Yeah, it would appear so.

http://wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=101&id=7133&desc=SS10%3A+Carnage+on+Saturday%27s+opener+

Still, I think he showed well. It's not like a driving error put him out..

He will still be able to continue tomorrow though won't he? Its just broken suspension

SupeRally rules should permit that. He won't be a factor in the standings, but he's in it for the experience this year anyway, so I'd expect him to restart tomorrow.

Broken suspension in Mexico is hard to blame on the driver - remember Henning Solberg two years ago? I'd call that a respectable showing.

Keith wrote: Broken suspension in Mexico is hard to blame on the driver - remember Henning Solberg two years ago? I'd call that a respectable showing.

Me, too. And everyone (even the WRC homepage) is talking about what a bear Ibarilla is. 30km. IIRC, when I checked the SS10 update this morning it seemed like the thing was pretty normal until about 20km, and then the last ten were really rough. Block suffered the failure at about 22 or so.

I've been watching some of the incar over on wrc.com...the rocks make the place look like the Acropolis!

My best finish in Rally Cross was 3rd. But my very next sentence was that there were only 4 people in my class that day.

since this thread is ultimately about ken block's awesomeness, i have to say it: that gymkhana video on youtube is sweeeeet

Finishing day 1 in 10th is doing damn good. I had him pegged to be further back towards 16th.

Day two hopefully will show similar results, starting that far down the list should provide him fairly clean roads so he wont have the big drop that others who rank high on the first day because of running order, only to be destroyed by their true pace being magnified by sweeping on the second. I am impressed so far, and while I was pretty pessimistic about him going into the season, its good to see that he is doing well so far. From interviews he seems to be a good guy, regardless of how annoying the hype around him is... And I was really worried that he got his break too early, and would lose his ride shorty after not performing up to the lofty ambitions created by all the attention his internet videos got. Sponsors can be pretty cruel to "losers".

Jensenman wrote: Maybe Kimi should have stuck to pavement? (ducks and runs for cover)

Awww, I am actually rooting for Kimi. Never really been a fan of his... but I like that he gave up a respectable position in one of the worlds top motor sports to be a back runner in rally. I am excited to see him progress... and even if he doesn't, you have to admit its pretty good to watch a spoiled F1 driver try and dig himself out of a ditch

Has anyone seen they Ken Block video?