Block eyeing top ten finish in New Zealand

Monster World Rally Team’s Ken Block says his main goal this weekend is to enjoy the unique roads that characterise Brother Rally New Zealand and to finish the seventh round of the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship with a top ten result.

Returning to the WRC for the first time since Rally Mexico, America’s Block is running ninth on the road of today’s repeat loop of stages that cover a whopping 209 kilometres of competitive distance.

“I absolutely love being here,” said Block, who has opted to run his Ford Fiesta RS WRC on hard compound Michelin tyres for the opening loop.

“The roads in New Zealand are amazing. I haven’t been back in the car since Mexico and I’ve had no testing before this event. On the first run at Shakedown I was quite nervous and actually spun because I struggled to find any grip. My main goal this weekend is to enjoy these roads and hopefully finish in the top ten.”

Block added: “I actually like Saturday’s stages best. I’ve actually driven some of those roads part of the Whangerai Rally that I did in 2007 - they’re a little wider and have more camber than the roads down south.”