This is definitely goooood news for us Americans who have an itch for Rally sports. Finally, we have an American driver competing with the world’s top rally drivers, who are mostly of direct European decent. But now we get to brush our big nose into what seemed like an exclusive European motor sports club. Backed by Monster Energy drinks, it really makes you think. The only energy drink to sponsor a WRC driver is Red Bull, and they’re sponsoring THE BEST rally driver, Frenchman Sebastien Loeb. I can see it now, Red Bull vs Monster, Sebastien Loeb vs Ken Block. There has been a lot of internet bickering on forums and youtube comments about how Ken Block is just a showman and would never be able to compete on the same level as Allstar rally drivers such as Loeb, Petter Solberg, Mikko Hirvonen, Chris Atkinson, and so on. But that’s all just speculation. Absolutely meaningless. We’ll just have to wait and see. Alongside the criticisms and speculations, there is undoubtedly a HUGE amount of pressure on Ken Block to succeed in the WRC. But I’m sure he’s already developed a mindset to deal with such pressures and high expectations. I wish him best of luck!
What really made me laugh though is how some the Subaru fans are getting their feelings hurt after hearing Block’s switch from Subaru to Ford. He’ll be driving Fords in both the WRC and Rally America Series. A few quotes I ran into that are just plain funny, and pitiful.
“No more Subaru? Fuck that. 0/5 stars and f*** u Ken block for that trade. Travis is cooler anyway..”
“F*** YOU KEN BLOCK! TRADER!”
I’m sure once Ken Block becomes successful in his Fords, these guys will switch to driving Fords.
But, in the whole scheme of things, I hope having an American driver in the WRC will finally bring more attention to developing a comprehensive Rally culture to the states. Meaning, more nation-wide events instead of local, more professional schooling — O’Neil is the only school I’ve heard of in the entire US, and FINALLLY, we can start watching WRC on the SPEED channel instead of seeing Monster trucks and Nascar! 24/7.
