Piloting a lesser specification Subaru Impreza WRX STI at this past weekend’s Rally Colorado, round eight of 2009 Rally America which was taken place from 19-20 September, Subaru Rally Team USA (SRT USA) driver Ken 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.
The Super Production (SP) class, a new category in the 2009 Rally America series. 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.
Block 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.”
Block’s SRT USA teammate Travis Pastrana was comfortably leading Day 1 of Rally Colorado when a minor driving infraction incurred him 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 James Han, motorsports marketing manager for Subaru of America, Inc..
“Given the lack of spare cars within the team’s inventory, a decision to save his machine for the final round of the RANC was a prudent one.” Pastrana mathematically secured his 4th consecutive Rally America National Championship with a win at last month’s Ojibwe Forests Rally.
As highest driver among Subaru runner, Nathan Conley finish in third with open class 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX after finishing in a dead-heat tie with Mark Fox. Both drivers crossed the finish line with identical time but, under RANC rules, a tie is resolved by counting the number of stage wins between the teams and the final spot on the overall podium went to Conley.
The final round of RANC, round nine “Lake Superior Performance Rally” will be taken place from 16-17 October at Michigan.
