Pirelli Partner/Driver Ken Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino drove the Monster World Rally Team Open Class Ford Fiesta to a fifth consecutive win at 100 Acre Wood this weekend. Block held-off a late charge by second-place finisher Antoine L’Estage in his Rockstar Mitsubishi Evo to win. Early Rally leader Travis Pastrana of the Subaru Rally Team USA suffered suspension problems, taking him out of contention for the top spot.
The 100 Acre Wood Rally is the second race of the Rally-America Championship Series. Named after the storybook home of Winnie the Pooh, the rally is picturesque, and features plenty of twists and turns to test any driver’s ability. Set in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains of Missouri, the rally is a favorite for drivers due to its pristine surroundings and fast, tight roads.
“This is the location of my first national rally win,” said Block ecstatically, “and now I’ve won this rally five years in a row! This was (also) our first event competing on gravel with Pirellis and they proved to not only be a very consistent tire, but extremely durable as well. We didn't have a single puncture the entire rally, and when times are close like they were between Antoine L'Estage and me, a puncture can change everything. It is a pretty good feeling to get the Fiesta home in first!”
Block and the rest of the Monster World Rally Team are now preparing for this week’s World Rally Championship event, the Corona Rally Mexico, on March 5-7th.
The next national event on the Rally America calendar is the Olympus Rally in Olympia, Washington this April 24-25.