Spanish frustration for Block

Ken Block’s team manager Derek Dauncy says the fact the American’s opening-stage exit has prevented him from building on his career-best eighth overall in France earlier this month is the most frustrating aspect of his retirement.

The Monster World Rally Team star’s Ford Fiesta RS WRC suffered broken steering when it struck a partially covered drainage culvert 16 kilometres into the dust-coated opening stage of RallyRACC-Rally de Espana this morning.

“It’s pretty lame that the boys ahead cutting the corner slightly in the dust has exposed a culvert, which has damaged the steering arm,” said Dauncy. “It’s really a shame going on from the improvements we made in France and the fact Ken is more happy on gravel and could have taken some time out of the Tarmac experts before tomorrow. He was happy with his pace notes and we were just playing ourselves in when it happened.”

Dauncy confirmed he was almost certain that Block would restart on Saturday following repairs in service in Salou. “For sure that’s the plan,” he said. “We think just the steering arm has broken.”