Ken Block will drive a V8 Supercar in a secret test in the coming days ahead of the American hero’s much-anticipated World Tour event at Calder Park this Saturday.
Block, the gymkhana specialist and World Rally Championship Ford driver, will drive Will Davison’s Trading Post Racing Falcon in a top secret test at an unspecified location. If Block and the Ford Performance Racing team are comfortable with Block’s ability in the V8, Block could also drive the Falcon during Saturday’s festivities at the outer-Melbourne circuit.
The Falcon that Block will drive will display a unique split livery, with half of the Falcon FG in its regular Trading Post colours, and the other half will be the familier Orrcon Steel branding of Mark Winterbottom.
Will Davison and Winterbottom will also take the wheel of Block’s gymkhana Fiesta.
One thing that is for certain is that TeamVodafone’s Jamie Whincup will drive his Triple Eight team’s Monster Energy Commodore on Saturday, regularly seen in the hands of Fujitsu V8 Series title leader Andrew Thompson.
Speedcafe.com also understands that the 2009 Bathurst 1000 winner, Davison, may get an opportunity to drive Block’s Ford Fiesta in return for Block’s V8 test.
Block’s potential drive of the V8 on Saturday would be held on Calder’s regular road course, while a purpose-built course within the natural amphitheatre of Calder Park has been created by Monster Energy to showcase Block’s gymkhana talents in his Ford rally car.
The one-of-a-kind event will also showcase the talents of Australia’s home-grown athletes such as the Monster Energy Showtime FMX Kawasaki freestyle motocross team, motorcycle stunt rider Matt Mingay and Pro Stock drag racing star Shane Tucker. V8 drivers Whincup, Shane van Gisbergen, Mark Winterbottom and Davison will also be on hand.
To give back to the fans that support Block and Monster Energy, 7000 free tickets have been distributed.
Monster Energy’s events and athlete manager Dave Ellis says that with just three days to go before the event, the excitement is building.
“It’s the biggest thing Monster has done in Australia,” Ellis told Speedcafe.com.
“MotoGP and Formula One race meetings are big here, but organising one yourself has been a massive task.
“We’re going to have 7000 people there, 150 of our most VIP guests from all around the world, plus all of our Monster athletes. It’s going to be huge and we can’t wait.
“Everyone already has their free tickets, the demand was massive and I’d like to think we have a good event organised. We’re hoping that everyone will walk away happy.”
Monster and Ford will hold a media event at Calder on Friday, followed by the Ken Block Gymkhana World Tour event on Saturday.
Fans at the event should keep their eyes and ears peeled for a collection of cool prizes on the day, including a chance to win one of six rides in Tucker’s Monster Pro Stock car, plus $20,000 in prizes that will be thrown ‘over the fence’ to the fans.
See below for Block’s most recent gymkhana video – just a sample of what Melbourne’s Calder Park guests can expect on Saturday …
