Driving Sports

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. Announcements are fine, but we wanted to see the car! Voila - here it is in all its Monstery goodness. In case there was any doubt, this isn't your mom's Fiesta.

The Monster World Rally Team's US-Spec Ford Fiesta will be will be seeing its first action this weekend at Sno*Drift, Round 1 of the 2010 Rally America Championship in Atlanta Michigan. As the name implies, this is a snow rally - the only official snow rally in the Rally America Championship calendar.

Traditionally this hasn't been a strong event for Block. In 2009 he started strong, leading Day 1, but an offroad excursion put an end to his chances for a podium finish. Instead, victory went to his teammate at the time, Travis Pastrana.

Pastrana isn't a sure thing for the 2010 winter event, however. Last weekend he broke his collar bone (no doubt doing something crazy on a motorbike) so he'll be driving through excruciating pain. This may give Ken Block the edge he needs for a top placing finish in the new car -- but with Antoine L'Estage, Andrew Comrie Picard and Andi Mancin all in the hunt, it's going to be quite a battle.

In spite of these odds, one thing is for certain: This is one damn fine looking rally car.

For more, watch our 3-part interview with Ken Block.

Photos courtesy Monster World Rally Team