When Ken Block threw his flat-brimmed hat into the World Rally Championship ring earlier this year, expectations were mixed. But three weeks ago, at Rally Mexico—Monster World Rally Teamʼs inaugural WRC race—Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino proved that they have what it takes to become a competitive force on the world stage.
“We even surprised ourselves, when, after the first few stages, we were not only not dead last, but we were keeping pace with a few veteran WRC drivers, and even ahead of F1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen,” says Ken Block.
By the end of the first leg, on Friday, Block and Gelsomino had secured a position on the leaderboard for the American flag to fly. Unfortunately, an off on the first stage of Day 2, left the Monster Energy Ford Focus RS WRC unable to continue. “It was a rookie mistake,” says Block. “We should have noted the change in surface, the section went from a grippy dirt road to very loose gravel and there was just no traction at all, especially for the speed we were trying to carry into the next turn.”
Thanks to SuperRally rules, which allow competitors to return to the stages the following day along with some heavy time penalties, Block and Gelsomino were at it again on Sunday morning. The two put on a repeat performance of Day 1, finishing stage 19, eighth fastest, with a 13.7 second gap between them and ninth place. Then, on stage 21, the Monster World Rally Team shocked naysayers once more, being second fastest on the road after the first split. But, a puncture caused by an unfortunate meeting of rim and rock later on this stage, robbed Block and Gelsomino of over a minute.
Ken Block slides a corner at Rally Mexico
“In the WRC, we had heard of Ken Block, but more for his stunts than his driving, but after his performance in Mexico, I think it is very clear to everyone that he has the potential to become a competitive WRC driver,” says M-Sport Managing Director Malcolm Wilson. “For his first WRC event, he did extremely well.”
Ken Block launches a jump at Rally Mexico
“Ken is shining a bright light on what we at Ford have always known…that Ford makes the best fun-to-drive small cars in the world,” says Ford Racing Director Jamie Allison. “Ken’s rally efforts globally with Fiesta and Focus help us to tell that story to a new generation of car enthusiasts and it’s great to see Ken, as the lone American, competing at the highest level in WRC and showcasing his great rally talent. All of which will help expand the appeal of the sport in the U.S.”
The next WRC round for MWRT will be Rally Turkey, on April 16-18. Until then, follow the team at monsterworldrallyteam.com
The Monster World Rally Team has just posted a new clip featuring Ken Block testing his 2011 Ford Focus RS rally car. Shot on location in the Greystoke Forrest in Northern England, the Mad Media produced viral film showcases Ken putting his WRC spec car through it’s paces in preparation for this weekends Rally Mexico, (round two of the World Rally Championship). Though the conditions in the English countryside were not at all close to what Ken will face at his first WRC race this weekend in Leon Mexico, it was an important step towards preparing for competition against the best rally drivers in the world. Mad Media will be on location at the WRC Mexico event, capturing behind the scenes action, as Ken and the Monster World Rally Team compete.
Based in the city of Leon, 400km north-west of Mexico City, the rally made its debut on the WRC calendar in 2004 and returns after a year’s absence in 2009. Always a popular event with the fanatical Mexican rally fans, this year’s edition comes with extra cause for celebration as the country marks the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution and the 200th anniversary of its independence. The event features a compact series of well-organised, high-speed gravel stages through the Sierra de Lobos and Sierra de Guanajuato mountains and plains around the cities of Guanajuato and Leon Stages are generally fast and flowing, on roads largely made of hard-packed gravel. March is the dry season in Mexico which means the road surface is expected to be dry, loose and sandy in places.
For more information and exclusive video coverage of Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team visit:www.monsterworldrallyteam.com
We just posted the newest Monster World Rally video featuring Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino testing for the 100 Acre Rally. The two have won the event four years in a row and were shaking down their 2011 Ford Fiesta in Missouri this week, in hopes of securing their 5th straight win. Mad Media shot and edited this new viral clip in a mere two days on a variety of HD cameras as well as RED and HD POV.
Ken Block’s Ford Fiesta under the spotlight and the Monster World Rally Team 2010 Schedule
Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team have just released a new viral video clip showcasing their 2010 Ford Fiesta, and the teams complete 2010 race schedule.The spot features an incredible montage of hyper-realistic images that highlight the design of the car, along with dynamic shots of Ken Block and his co-driver Alex Gelsomino. Director Joshua Martelli lead the Mad Media crew through two intense days of photography using their RED ONE camera package. DP Milan Spasic , AD/Editor Ryan Holdridge, and 1st AC Eric Everley assisted as they shot and cut the ninety-second spot in a mere two days at FPI Studios in Auburn Hills, Mi alongside still photographer Tony Harmer. The post production workflow included processing with the RED Rocket card, a trip through RED’s Cine X software, and editing with Apple’s Final Cut Pro 7.
“There’s never been anything produced like this for a World Rally or North American rally athlete or team”, commented Mad Media Director of Film/TV Production, Joshua Martelli. “It’s part high-end car commercial, part hip-hop music video. Except that we let the car and Ken remain the focus of the piece, and skipped all the BS with smoke machines and half-naked girls. In the end, it showcases the radical design or ‘livery’ of the car, and most importantly captures Ken’s personality. I think both old school and new school rally fans will love it – and fans of Ken will be stoked as well. As usual, Ken gave us great creative input, but allowed us to experiment a bit and the result is quite stunning. I also have to credit MWRT’s Marketing Manager Brian Scotto, photographer Tony Harmer (who designed some of the flashier lighting set-ups), and FPI Studios for help with project. It was a team effort all around, and it shows in the work.”
Mad Media has been retained by the Monster World Rally Team to produce coverage of all the Rally America National Championship events, as well as a host of special projects.
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