Block crashes in Portugal shakedown

Ken Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino have undergone precautionary checks in hospital after they crashed during shakedown for Vodafone Rally de Portugal.

Block was tackling his third run over the 5.03-kilometre stage at Vale de Judeau when it is understood he clipped a rock in a narrow section approximately halfway through the stage and rolled over a bank.

His Ford Fiesta RS WRC ended up some six metres off the road although it is not clear whether the damage will be too extensive for the American to start the rally tomorrow (Thursday) until engineers from Block’s Monster World Rally Team have carried out a technical inspection.

A spokesperson for the team said: “Ken and Alex went to hospital in Faro for a precautionary check-up but are okay. We’re waiting for the car to get back to service before we have an idea of how bad the damage is.”