Subaru Rally Team USA driver Ken Block dominated this past weekend’s Rally New York USA event, earning a convincing win by over four minutes in his Monster Energy 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Block and his co-driver Alex Gelsomino entered the event with the intent to gain FIA-style reconnaissance experience and for personal enjoyment. This rally does not serve as a round in the 2008 Rally America National Championship, where Block currently tops the standings after winning round two, the 100 Acre Wood Rally.

Rally New York USA featured over 100 miles of high speed and technical asphalt roads in the Catskill Mountains of New York. Rainy conditions on the first day of competition made the roads slick, but it was mechanical troubles that caught out Block’s closest rivals early into the event. Block and Gelsomino then ran away with the event, winning 23 of 27 stages on their way to a nearly four-and-a-half minute victory.
“I really enjoy the tarmac form of rally because it is so different and more technical than gravel, you have to be so precise, but that challenge is what made it such an amazing experience.”, said Block. “We were here primarily to get some more reconnaissance experience but I have wanted to run a full tarmac event for a long while now. I adapted better than I expected to the tarmac and I am looking forward to racing some more tarmac events again sometime in the future.” The Rally America National Championship does not feature any full tarmac rallies, although several of the gravel events do incorporate one or more tarmac or mixed-tarmac stages.
Block and Gelsomino, along with their Subaru Rally Team USA teammates Travis Pastrana and co-driver Derek Ringer, will be back in action at the Olympus Rally, round three of the 2008 Rally America National Championship, April 19-20, 2008, in and around Pomeroy, Washington.
Subaru Rally Team USA is proudly supported by Subaru of America, Subaru Tecnica International (STI), Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT), DC Shoes, BFGoodrich Tires, Boost Mobile, Recaro, Alpinestars, Motul, Exedy, Greddy, PIAA and Vermont SportsCar. Visit www.subaru.com/rally for Subaru Rally Team USA photo galleries, news and team information.