Driving Sports

In this episode we have a first look at Ken Block's Monster World Rally Team Ford Fiesta, give a preview of Sno*Drift (Rally America - Round 1) and we take another look at our long-term 2009 Subaru WRX test car.

Welcome to Driving Sports TV’s Extra for the fourth week of January, 2010.

This week: Ken Blocks new livery, a preview of Rally America Round 1 and we revisit the 2009 WRX in the Driving Sports Garage.

A couple weeks ago we broke the news that Ken Block made a jump from the Subaru Rally Team to the new Ford-backed Monster World Rally Team. Finally we can show you exactly what Ken’s new ride is going to look like:

Here are the first-ever pictures of Block’s Ford Fiesta rally car, which will be seeing action this weekend at Sno*Drift, Round 1 of the 2010 Rally America Championship in Atlanta Michigan.

The only snow rally on the calendar, Sno*Drift has traditionally not been a good one for Block. Last year he had an early lead that was wiped away following an unplanned offroad excursion. Overall victory went to fellow Subaru teammate Travis Pastrana.

In spite of last year’s performance, not many are betting on Pastrana taking another overall victory in Michigan. Just last weekend he broke his collar bone! That is bound to impact his performance. Though, if anyone can drive through the pain, it’s Travis. That guy is nuts.

Other strong contenders include Canadian champion Antoine L’Estage and North American Rally Champion Andrew Comrie Picard. In 2008 L’Estage won the event outright with a Hyundai Tiburon – yes, a Tiburon. This year he’s rocking a Mitsubishi EVO X with a definite eye on the prize.

We’ll have a complete wrap following the event. Be sure to subscribe to Driving Sports TV for all the action, of what is bound to be a breakout year for American Rally Sports.

Now, let’s pay a visit to the Driving Sports Garage.

Last year we took delivery of a 2009 Subaru WRX for some long-term testing. Like we said in our original review, this new model is a major improvement over the 2008 model. The power has been upped 40 horses -- to 265 horsepower and 244 ft-lbs of torque. The 2009 model was also fitted with tighter suspension all around, making it much more worthy of its rally heritage.

If you’ve followed our Twitter account, you’re familiar with our several round-trips from Seattle to Los Angeles, the time we used it as a truck -- hauling roofing supplies for Ryan’s remodel, putting in some fun laps at Willow Springs Raceway, chasing rally cars on forest roads, and taking the kids sledding in the mountains.

That’s what we’re finding is the beauty with this car. If you can’t afford to own an outright sports car, a commuter car and a hauler, it’s really an ideal compromise.

It’s not the most economical of cars, we average about 23 miles per gallon on the freeway, but we’re not exactly light on the throttle, so just as much blame can go to the driver as to the motor.

To date, we’ve put 15,000 miles on the odometer, and aside from the awful navigation system – which we don’t recommend – the 2009 WRX has provided ongoing fun and utility for a price that really is the deal of the decade for any car enthusiast.

We’ll have another report before this one is turned back in to Subaru, so stay tuned.

Thanks for watching, we’ll be back next week with another episode of Extra!

If you haven’t yet, also visit us at drivingsports.com, for in-depth articles and videos going all the way back to 2005. See you next week!