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Ken Block Wins Red Bull GRC Season Opener in Fort Lauderdale

Andries van der WaltComments Off on Ken Block Wins Red Bull GRC Season Opener in Fort Lauderdale
 Ken Block backed up his season-ending win in Las Vegas last year with a victory to kick off the 2015 Red Bull Global Rallycross season, taking top honors in the season-opening race at the Bahia Mar Resort in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Block held off strong charges from Formula 1 veterans Scott Speed and Nelson Piquet Jr., who completed the podium.
Ken Block
Ken Block

“Racing these two really talented tarmac drivers was really tough!” Block said after the race. “They really pushed me and our team all weekend, and it was a lot of fun. It came down to starts, and I got lucky—I got quick on the starts, was able to put some good times in, and came out with the win. It’s a great way to start the year!”

Block, who finished third in his first heat after an aggressive overtake attempt on Speed put him into the tire barriers, took second place in the second round and converted the front row starting spot into a victory in his semifinal. In the main event, Block used the Kobalt Tools Joker Lap immediately to grab the lead, then extended his gap over the field to take his fourth career Supercar victory.

In GRC Lites, Austin Cindric took a commanding victory in his first race for Olsbergs MSE, winning every on-track session he competed in. The American driver defeated Colombian Alejandro Fernandez and Swede Oliver Eriksson for the crown, heading home with the maximum 56 possible points.

Unofficial results from Red Bull Global Rallycross Fort Lauderdale are as follows:

  1. Ken Block, #43 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Fiesta ST
  2. Scott Speed, #41 Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Beetle
  3. Nelson Piquet Jr., #07 SH Racing Rallycross Ford Fiesta ST
  4. Sebastian Eriksson, #93 Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST
  5. Tanner Foust, #34 Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Beetle
  6. Austin Dyne, #14 Bryan Herta Rallysport Ford Fiesta ST
  7. Steve Arpin, #00 Chip Ganassi Racing Ford Fiesta ST
  8. Victor Gonzalez Jr., #99 Rhys Millen Racing Hyundai Veloster
  9. Sverre Isachsen, #11 Subaru Rally Team USA WRX STI
  10. Bucky Lasek, #81 Subaru Rally Team USA WRX STI
  11. Patrik Sandell, #18 Bryan Herta Rallysport Ford Fiesta ST
  12. Joni Wiman, #31 Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST

Red Bull Global Rallycross heads to the Circuit of the Americas next for X Games Austin, a non-points, invitational round on the 2015 schedule. The next points-paying event for Red Bull GRC is a doubleheader at Daytona International Speedway on June 19-21.