Latest Kiwi world champ

[BZG Wagon]

I saw a comment by Ken block once, saying something along the lines of "sure im never gonna be top driver, but im out there doing something i love with a passion". for that comment, i like him. He's put together a deal to be out there having a blast, good on him.

Agree - but maybe he should look for something a bit better suited to his skills, so someone like Hayden can have a decent shot one day (leaving the publicity benefits aside).

[fangsport]

I saw a comment by Ken block once, saying something along the lines of "sure im never gonna be top driver, but im out there doing something i love with a passion". for that comment, i like him. He's put together a deal to be out there having a blast, good on him.

Agree - but maybe he should look for something a bit better suited to his skills, so someone like Hayden can have a decent shot one day (leaving the publicity benefits aside).

Ken is there purely because he can afford to, and Ford see the marketing potential in North America.

Matthew Wilson is purely there cos his dad owns the team, and the 5 year plan to have a British world Champ will become 10 years of wasted funding

[TRD Man]

On the world rally forums there's an Aussie espousing the same nonsense as the above comments. We expect better from NZers.
Both Block & Wilson are using private resources to enter the sport they enjoy.
The nature of the sport both allows and encourages them to do so.
The retirement of either would not create opportunity for Hayden or any other driver presently knocking on the door.

[1I1]

If having someone like Ken in the WRC means that theres a chance it will get more teams involved due to increased publicity and grow I'm all for it.

[BZG Wagon]

On the world rally forums there's an Aussie espousing the same nonsense as the above comments. We expect better from NZers.
Both Block & Wilson are using private resources to enter the sport they enjoy.
The nature of the sport both allows and encourages them to do so.
The retirement of either would not create opportunity for Hayden or any other driver presently knocking on the door.

Completely missed the point. Firstly I have no issue with Ken being there. Yes he is bankrolling a decent component of his dream via his company / brand, but neither he nor his sponsors are stupid and clearly they're benefitting. How confident are you that Pirelli, EA, Spy, Ford, and Monster Energy will walk away with Ken if he leaves?

But, not withstanding viewership in the states, given his results I simply think he should consider stepping aside and letting someone with talent take the seat while he looks at something he's more suited to (management, co-driver, or a different level of rallying). I.e. build a team that will last well into the future (which is what the WRC is in desperate need of). And how much better would the sport be if someone other then Sébastien Loeb was on the podium?

If you really care about the sport, you'd invest in the future of it, and maybe I'm naive in thinking we should see the absolute best at the highest level.
Oh and I'm sorry I'm an NZer causing you embarrassment with an opinion that's different to yours. What a stupid comment.

[2jayzgte]

It seems to be a common thing at the very top echelons of motorsport if you are'nt the 2nd coming of a Seb Loeb Vettel Senna etc you've got little to no chance of cracking the top level with out huge financial support.It'll be interesting to see how far guys like Paddon Stanaway Evans and Hartley go.

[TRD Man]

I think BZG Wagon, the point you've missed is that Block's motivation has little to do with the sport's longevity or promotion but rather his own enjoyment.
And that's fine.
One of the sport's major points of difference from other elite sports, and particularly motorsports, is it's inclusiveness and the ability of anybody, who can find the resource, to compete directly with the best. The day that ceases to be the case will be a sad day for the sport.

Of course we all want to see a championship in which more than one competitor occupies the top of the podium and opportunities are created for those with the talent to challenge.
But that doesn't, and shouldn't, compel competitors like Block to gift their personal resource to those who are unable to create their own opportunities, regardless of how talented they may be.

In an ideal world the profile of WRC would be such that sufficient sponsors and manufacturers exist to provide opportunity for all contenders.
I'm not wholly convinced but there are many who would believe that Block's involvement helps raise the profile toward that level.

[JustinSpiderholden]

Good Work Hayden and has defantly now cemented your spot as the best rally driver to come out of NZ since Possum.

Ditch the WRC and go drive in the IRC it $&#$% rocks and has more than 3 manifactures signed up and competing

[TRD Man]

I don't believe there's any "since Possum" about it.
Mason surpassed Possum's ability years ago and Hayden can surely be counted as the most talented rally driver this country has produced to date.

[Zitchu]

Now most of this wouldn't be a problem if the teams where still allowed to take tobacco companies money

[matt dunn]

we still kicked your arse two years running

Sorry, who was last years NZ champ?
and what rally this year did he beat Hayden?

lol

[Mr Revhead]

Yeah things certainly turned around! Guess they had something specail those two years they won

[Mr Revhead]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/motorsport ... e-in-Wales

Well Block is helping out a little...

[GTTpower]

Haha what are the chances! Regardless of my opinion of Block, this is a great opportunity for Paddon.

[Mr Revhead]

Maybe he could talk to Lotus about doing some tarmac events

http://www.evo.co.uk/front_website/gall ... ?id=463222

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[Grrrrrrr!]

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[fangsport]

Haha what are the chances! Regardless of my opinion of Block, this is a great opportunity for Paddon.

kinda stand to reason........... block was 'helped' into rallying in NZRC the year Sam Murray won it.

[touge_ae101]

Ditch the WRC and go drive in the IRC it $&#$% rocks and has more than 3 manifactures signed up and competing

where is the 'like' button?? IRC FTW

fair enough for ken block being there. this just shows the gap in the standard of rallying between the US and rest of the world cause he is still right up there in their rallies (behind travis pastrana of course who isn't even a specialised driver). so his involvment in WRC will be good and grow the sport in the US, leading to more top level drivers making it to WRC or whatever it becomes in the future. can't be a bad thing.

its quite similar to the abu dhabi driver (can't remember his name) who has been competing for a couple of years with no real results but nobody has any qualms with him being there?

[TRD Man]

Al Qassimi

[rollaholic]

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