Piloting a lesser specification Subaru Impreza WRX STI at this past weekend’s Rally Colorado, Subaru Rally Team USA (SRT USA) driver Ken Block hovered near the top of the time sheets throughout the event. Block was without his usual high-powered Open Class 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI and instead drove the Super Production (SP) class Subaru Impreza WRX STI of fellow SRT USA teammate Dave Mirra, who did not attend Rally Colorado due to a schedule conflict with a BMX event. Block and his co-driver Alex Gelsomino put in an impressive drive in the lower specification SP class car, running a majority of the rally in 3rd overall and winning three stages outright. Unfortunately for Block, the impressive drive was annulled on the penultimate stage after his Subaru developed an engine problem, forcing Block to withdraw.

“I had to change my driving style to adjust for the power difference between the SP and my usual Open Class car, staying much smoother and less sideways,” explained Block. “I thought it would take a few stages to get used to it and get up to speed but we won the first stage of the rally which was really surprising, that gave me a lot of confidence for the rest of the event. It was satisfying that we were able to challenge for a podium position with the top Open Class competitors.”

The Super Production (SP) class, a new category in the 2009 Rally America series, features minimally modified, production-based cars. The budget-minded SP class features much more restrictive regulations on modifications than the Open Class, where Block has been driving for the past three seasons. The SP Subaru Impreza WRX STI features a stock engine, stock gearbox and very limited body shell modifications. Block crashed his Open Class Subaru heavily at the previous event, The Ojibwe Forests Rally, he and his co-driver Alex Gelsomino walked away unharmed but their Subaru rally car was terminally damaged. With insufficient time to prepare a spare rally car, SRT USA opted to provide Block with the team’s Super Production class Subaru in Mirra’s absence at Rally Colorado.

“Ken drove well in Colorado and further displayed the performance potential of the Subaru Impreza WRX STI in SP trim,” mentioned James Han, motorsports marketing manager for Subaru of America, Inc. “By creating the competitive Super Production class, Rally America has established an attractive and more economical alternative to fielding an Open class-specification car for the privateer entrant.”

The SP class is always highly competitive with closely fought battles amongst privateers fighting for nearly $13,000 in prize money per event offered by Subaru of America, Inc. Block, however, was fighting his battle amongst the faster Open class cars at Rally Colorado. The first half of the rally saw Block amass a lead of well over two minutes to the closest SP challenger.

Block’s Subaru Rally Team USA teammate Travis Pastrana was comfortably leading Day 1 of Rally Colorado when a minor driving infraction incurred the driver of the #199 SRT USA STI a 7-minute penalty.

“A disappointing scenario, essentially a matter of Travis hitting three traffic cones in a chicane placed by event officials on-stage, amounted to a time penalty which would have been very challenging even in optimal circumstances to overcome on the 2nd day,” said Han. “Given the lack of spare cars within the team’s inventory, a decision to save the #199 STI for the final round of the Rally America National Championship was a prudent one.” Travis Pastrana mathematically secured his 4th consecutive Rally America National Championship with a win at last month’s Ojibwe Forests Rally.

Subaru Rally Team USA is proudly supported by Subaru of America, Inc., Subaru Tecnica International (STI), Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT), DC Shoes, BFGoodrich Tires, DiRT2, RECARO, Alpinestars, Motul, Exedy, GReddy, and Vermont SportsCar. For more information on Subaru Rally Team USA, as well as exclusive photo and video galleries visit rally.subaru.com and for the latest news follow the team on Twitter: twitter.com/srtusa.

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- Teammate Travis Pastrana Finishes 2nd and Retains Championship Lead -

Subaru Rally Team USA driver Ken Block earned his second Rally America victory of 2009 with a dominating win at the 2009 Waste Management Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally (STPR). Block and his co-driver Alex Gelsomino were untouchable in their 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, leading from the very first stage and going on to win eight of thirteen competition stages at STPR, round five of the 2009 Rally America National Championship. Block’s Subaru teammate and defending three-time Rally America National Champion Travis Pastrana with co-driver Christian Edstrom made it a 1-2 finish for Subaru Rally Team USA by placing 2nd Overall. Dave Mirra and co-driver Derek Ringer, in Subaru Rally Team USA’s Super Production Class Subaru STI hit a large rock while battling for the class lead and were forced to retire from the event.

The win at STPR is sweet redemption for Ken Block who has experienced hard luck early in the 2009 Rally America season and at past STPR events. The two-day STPR takes place on high-speed, tree lined roads in northern Pennsylvania. “I’ve rolled here, and I DNF’d last year; the year before that I crashed in shakedown and then only made it a stage and a half,” explained Block. “So, to win here with a good clean run is really satisfying. I’ve also had rough luck this season, not finishing three rallies. The win here really helps.”

Block set a blistering pace early at STPR, taking the lead on the first stage and never looking back. After winning all three of Day One’s stages Block had accumulated an impressive one-minute lead. Block could have afforded to throttle back on Day Two but he continued his rapid pace winning five of ten stages to take victory over Travis Pastrana by one minute and twelve seconds. “I’m always pushing myself and always trying to become a better driver so we didn’t really slow down on the second day. Everything was going well and my Subaru was performing flawlessly, so we just kept the pace up and drove smart,” explained Block. “This is such a tough event with really fast roads; you can’t afford to make any mistakes, and winning here means a lot.”

Block’s teammate Travis Pastrana may have been able to challenge Block for the win but a broken right front suspension on only the second stage of the rally cost Pastrana nearly a minute of lost time. Pastrana quickly fought his way from third to second overall and pulled away steadily throughout Day Two to secure a second overall finish. “The goal was to win if you can but podium for sure so we can extend our points lead in the championship,” said Pastrana.

The third Subaru Rally Team USA entry of driver Dave Mirra and co-driver Derek Ringer were gunning for a Super Production class victory in their 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI. The new Super Production (SP) class, a new category for 2009 that features minimally modified, production-based cars has showcased close battles at each rally thus far and STPR was no different. While battling for the class lead midway through the rally Mirra hit a large rock that damaged both left wheels of his Subaru, knocking him out the event. “It was like getting kicked out of a really good party early,” said Mirra. “We just hit a massive embedded rock on the inside of a turn and both left wheels were damaged.”

Vermont-based Subaru Rally Team USA stays close to home for round six, the New England Forest Rally (July 17-18), held on the dusty gravel logging roads along the Maine/New Hampshire border. Visit subaru.com/rally for all the latest team news and photos and follow the team on Twitter at twitter.com/srtusa. Subaru Rally Team USA is proudly supported by Subaru of America, Inc., Subaru Tecnica International (STI), Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT), DC Shoes, BFGoodrich Tires, RECARO, Alpinestars, Motul, Exedy, GReddy, and Vermont SportsCar.

Photos: Lars Gange | subaru.com/rally

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Subaru Rally Team USA driver Travis Pastrana is back atop the Rally America National Championship standings after winning the 2009 Oregon Trail Rally this past weekend. Pastrana, the three-time defending Rally America National Champion strode to victory in Oregon with a faultless drive behind the wheel of his 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI rally car, winning by nearly one minute. Pastrana and his co-driver Christian Edstrom have now won three of the first four Rally America rounds and are in prime position to challenge for a fourth consecutive championship with five rounds remaining.

The 2009 Oregon Trail Rally, round four of the 2009 Rally America National Championship, featured over 100 miles of competition on a course that included a mix of twisty, hard-packed forest conditions and wide-open farming roads. The event kicked-off with a night of fan-friendly mixed-surface stages at Portland International Raceway and then moved east to the Mt. Hood area for the remainder of the weekend. The conditions were sunny and bright, making for dry and dusty roads and a visibility challenge for teams.

Pastrana took the lead early on Day Two, and then set a blazing pace later in the day to increase his gap substantially. With a comfortable margin over challengers Tanner Foust and Andrew Comrie Picard, Pastrana was able to cruise to victory on Day Three while a battle ensued behind him for the remaining podium positions. “It was a near perfect rally for us, we fought hard early to establish a lead and then were able to take it easy through the rest of the weekend,” explained Pastrana. “Our Subaru was flawless again, and we have made good progress in finding more speed and drivability with our 2009 STI. My Subaru was an absolute blast to drive this weekend!”

Pastrana now vaults to the lead of the 2009 Rally America National Championship and is in an excellent position to challenge for his fourth consecutive Rally America National Championship. “In the past couple years I’ve had good success at each of the five remaining rounds, “said Pastrana. “The pressure is off just a bit now but this year the competition is much harder and the battles are tighter so I’m sure it won’t be easy!”

The pressure is now shifted onto the shoulders of Pastrana’s Subaru Rally Team USA teammate Ken Block and his co-driver Alex Gelsomino who ran into more bad luck at Oregon. The duo were forced to retire from the rally after sustaining damage to their front left suspension after going off the road due to a tire puncture. “Under braking after a high speed section the car suddenly didn’t want to turn and in an instant I realized it was due to a sudden, and very bad, front left tire puncture. I had no choice but to go off the road and over a ditch, which damaged the front left suspension,” explained a dejected Block. Block has failed to finish three of the first four events but his strong win at the 100 Acre Wood Rally and his commanding speed in each rally give him hope of fighting back. Block re-entered the Oregon Trail Rally on Day Three, for exhibition only, and won all five stages, proving again he has the speed to win.

In the Super Production (SP) Class the story was attrition. Nearly all of the top SP Class finishers encountered problems and failed to finish. But Subaru Rally Team USA driver Dave Mirra with co-driver Derek Ringer stayed trouble-free and drove a smart rally at the wheel of their 2009 Subaru WRX STI to finish first in the SP Class and 6th Overall. During post-race inspection, however, a minor specification infraction on Mirra’s car led race officials to penalize the #40 car of Mirra and Ringer one SP Class position, dropping him to 2nd in SP Class. “There were some great battles early on but then as everyone started to have trouble I just backed off and found a comfortable pace,” said Mirra. “I’ve gotten much more comfortable with the new 2009 STI and feel I was much more consistent with my driving. The best is yet to come.”

Subaru Rally Team USA now transits back to the east coast for the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally (June 5-6) and then on to the New England Forest Rally (July 17-18).

Follow Subaru Rally Team USA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/srtusa

Subaru Rally Team USA is proudly supported by Subaru of America, Inc., Subaru Tecnica International (STI), Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT), DC Shoes, BFGoodrich Tires, RECARO, Alpinestars, Motul, Exedy, GReddy, and Vermont SportsCar. Visit www.subaru.com/rally for Subaru Rally Team USA photo galleries, news and team information.

Photos by Lars Gange

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For the second straight year, Subaru Rally Team USA driver Ken Block has won Rally New York USA in dominating fashion, gapping the closest finisher by nearly three minutes in his Monster Energy 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Block and his co-driver Alex Gelsomino were nearly untouchable on the slick, rain-soaked tarmac roads and won an incredible 18 of 23 stages. Rally New York USA featured over 100 miles of high-speed technical asphalt roads in the southern Catskill Mountains of New York, about 90 miles north of New York City.

Rally New York USA does not serve as a round in the 2009 Rally America National Championship, where Block currently sits tied for 3rd overall in the standings after winning round two, the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood. Block entered Rally New York USA to extend his experience on tarmac, this being Block’s second full rally ever on the surface. The event also featured FIA style two-pass reconnaissance which Block and Gelsomino are always keen to gain more experience. Block entered the event with his older specification Open Class 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI because his 2009 spec Subaru STI is in-transit to the west cost for the upcoming Olympus Rally.

Rainy conditions throughout the weekend made for extremely slick conditions, but Block drove a mistake-free rally and was never seriously challenged. “This was only my second tarmac event and I think my experience here last year really helped,” explained Block. “We drove a clean and consistent rally and our Subaru was perfect as usual, so we were able to push when we wanted to. It all paid off with a great win.”

Subaru Rally Team USA heads next to the legendary Olympus Rally, round 3 of the 2009 Rally America National Championship, where Block will be in action with Subaru teammates Travis Pastrana and Dave Mirra.

For behind the scenes news and updates please follow Subaru Rally Team USA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/srtusa

Subaru Rally Team USA is proudly supported by Subaru of America, Inc., Subaru Tecnica International (STI), Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT), DC Shoes, BFGoodrich Tires, RECARO, Alpinestars, Motul, Exedy, GReddy, and Vermont SportsCar. Visit www.subaru.com/rally for Subaru Rally Team USA photo galleries, news and team information.

Ken Block action photos please credit: Neil McDaid
Ken Block candid photo please credit: Lars Gange

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