Australia boost for Block

Ken Block has told Wrc.com that he hopes his love of the Rally Australia stages and the enthusiastic support from the local fans will spur him to his first drivers’ championship points of 2011 when the New South Wales event starts on Thursday.

Block has never competed in Australia before but has likened the gravel tests he’ll encounter this week to the stages he has experienced during two outings on Rally New Zealand in the past.

He has also pointed to the backing he has received from the Australian fans, including the 8000 followers who turned up to watch the final stop of his Gymkhana World Tour in Melbourne last weekend (3 September).

“The people in Australia really love a bit of tyre smoke and the event was really fun,” said the Monster World Rally Team ace of his trip to Melbourne. “We took about 30 people for a ride in the Gymkhana car and put on a good show. Monster brought along some motocross and drift guys and Mark Winterbottom and Will Davison, from the Ford Performance Racing Aussie V8 Supercars team, were also there.

“I really like these roads here and the people are definitely motorsport enthusiasts. I’ve done more interviews then I have before any other WRC event and the fans appreciate what I’m doing. Points are the target here and I’m confident I can be consistent and finish in the top 10.”

Block’s visit to Melbourne also included the chance to drive a Ford Falcon Aussie V8 Supercar at the city’s Calder Park race circuit.

“It’s completely counterintuitive to what I’ve been working in with my Ford Fiesta RS WRC in rallies because you brake really hard and you’re not back on the throttle until you’re pointing in a straight line, otherwise you’ll spin,” said Block.

Block’s Gymkhana World Tour stop in Melbourne concluded with a drag race against reigning Aussie V8 Supercars champion Jamie Whincup, which Block won after accelerating from 0-97kph in 1.9s at the wheel of his Gymkhana THREE Ford Fiesta.