SALEM, MO -- Subaru Rally Team USA driver Ken Block took his first-ever overall victory at the 100 Acre Wood Rally after a consistent drive through the rolling Ozark foothills of southern Missouri. “I feel very good,” said Block, after crossing the finish line. “It’s quite a bit of redemption after what happened at Sno*Drift -- I felt I had to prove myself.” Block spun off the road on the second day of the icy season opener last month to finish fourth overall.

At this rally, Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino set a strong early pace in their Open class Subaru WRX STi, taking four outright stage wins during the opening day. But the team lost ground to Subaru teammates Travis Pastrana and co-driver Christian Edstrom after nightfall to finish Day 1 seconds behind. Block admits he isn’t comfortable driving in the dark. “It’s hard to push… when I can’t see over the next crest,” he said.

Under sunny skies on Day 2, the stage was set for a close battle between teammates in virtually identical competition cars. Block and Gelsomino were gaining ground when the Pastrana and Edstrom effort met an abrupt end. Rounding a fast corner at close to 120 miles per hour, Pastrana struck a roadside tree stump and slid into the woods. With gasoline pouring from his vehicle’s fuel cell, he was forced to retire. After that, Block said all he had to do for a win was drive conservatively to the finish line.

Italian Alfredo de Dominicis and co-driver Max Daddoveri claimed second overall – finishing 47.7 seconds behind Block after putting in their own measured effort in an Open class Subaru. “I’m happy,” said de Dominicis. “The last three rallies, I didn’t finish. So, for me, it was important to make the miles and to finish.”

The driver had planned to contest the series in a Mitsubishi this season, but appeared at this rally in the 2004 Subaru WRX STi that Canadian Pat Richard drove to the overall championship title last season. De Dominicis damaged his regular competition car when he slid off the road into some trees during the first round last month.

Australian Andrew Pinker and co-driver Robbie Durant edged into third late in the day Saturday to claim a first U.S. podium finish in their Group N Subaru. After a disappointing start that saw the team in 7th overall after Day 1, Pinker picked up the pace to claim several outright stage wins and rocket up the standings. It still wasn’t good enough for him. “Of course we’re happy, but second would have been better,” he said. “Now I have to figure out how to keep up with Travis and Ken.”

This was Pinker’s first American event on gravel. It was expected he would prove a formidable competitor from the outset, but he said he struggled to keep up with the powerful Open class competition on the fast and smooth early stages. He found the technical character of Saturday’s course more favorable and he was able to make up time.

It was a close race in the Production GT class as rivals Tanner Foust and Matt Johnson squared off for the first time this season. After trading seconds between them, Johnson suffered mechanical trouble and the class victory went to Foust. He finished fifth overall – and more than three minutes ahead of Johnson.

This event also saw the successful debut for a rally newcomer with a motorbike pedigree. X-Games fans will recognize “Cowboy” Kenny Bartram as the second two-wheel pro to make a recent switch to four by joining the Rally America championship circuit. The Oklahoma native, who swapped his helmet for a cowboy hat during every service break to chat with fans, credits his friend Pastrana with introducing him to the sport. “It was one heck of a great time,” enthused Bartram. “We got to do lots of really fun stuff in a car… and it was actually encouraged!”

The novice rally driver contested this round in a Production class Volkswagen Beetle, starting 46th out of 51 entries and finishing 18th overall. He said he’ll return to the series in a more powerful car later in the season, perhaps as soon as Round 3 in April.

Defending 2005 North American champion Matthew Iorio finished well back as he struggled to work out the bugs in a newly prepared Subaru that didn’t appear to be quite ready for the rigors of competition.

The 100 Acre Wood rally takes place over two days, covering more than 100 miles of winding dirt and gravel roads near the Mark Twain National Forest. This spectacular rally takes its place on the national calendar for the first time in 2006, having recently served as a championship runoff for regional competitors.

The next round of the national championship, Oregon Trail, starts from Portland, Oregon, in April.

BY: Jen Horsey