Subaru Rally Team USA(SRT USA) driver Ken Block earned his second Rally America National Championship (RANC) victory of 2009 with a dominating win at the 2009 Waste Management Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally (STPR) which is round five of the series taking place from 5-6 June.
The two-day STPR takes place on high-speed, tree lined roads in northern Pennsyl-vania. Block and his co-driver Alex Gelsomino were untouchable in their latest model Subaru Impreza WRX STI, leading from the very first stage and going on to win eight of thirteen competition stages at STPR. Block's teammate and defending three-time Rally America National Champion Travis Pastrana with co-driver Christian Edstrom made it a 1-2 finish for SRT USA by placing 2nd Overall.
Dave Mirra and co-driver Derek Ringer, in Subaru Rally Team USA's Super Produc-tion Class Subaru STI hit a large rock while battling for the class lead and were forced to retire from the event.
The win at STPR is sweet redemption for Ken Block who has experienced hard luck early in the 2009 Rally America season and at past STPR events. The two-day STPR takes place on high-speed, tree lined roads in northern Pennsylvania."I've rolled here, and I DNF'd last year; the year before that I crashed in shakedown and then only made it a stage and a half," explained Block. "So, to win here with a good clean run is really satisfying. I've also had rough luck this season, not finishing three rallies. The win here really helps."
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Block's teammate Travis Pastrana may have been able to challenge Block for the win but a broken right front suspension on only the second stage of the rally cost Pastra-na nearly a minute of lost time. Pastrana quickly fought his way from third to second overall and pulled away steadily throughout Day Two to secure a second overall finish. "The goal was to win if you can but podium for sure so we can extend our points lead in the championship," said Pastrana.
The next round of RANC, round six "New England Forest Rally" will be taken place from 17-18 July.
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