Tag: Ken Block

Red Bull GRC Seattle – OpenPaddock On-Site and Behind the Scenes at DirtFish

Mike Shaw

OpenPaddock.net is super excited to have been invited to get an up-close view of the Red Bull Global Rallycross event at DirtFish Rally School just outside of Seattle, Washington.  I’ll be there all weekend with OpenPaddock contributor, Robert Mahony who will be acting as our chief photographer.  We’ll do our best to get you a detailed behind the scenes experience of what is expected to be one of the highlights of the entire GRC season.   I actually attended the event at DirtFish in 2011, then called GRC Twin Peaks.  The sport…

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Red Bull GRC – Power Rankings for LA

Mike Shaw

Last week I spoke with Chris Leone of the Red Bull GRC and we summarized the season so far as it heads to the west coast.  As the clock ticks down to this weekend’s double-header in LA, I came up with my opinion of where I think the drivers rank.  Note that this doesn’t exactly reflect the championship standings as this isn’t just where they finish, but about their consistent speed and potential.  I’ve jotted down a few comments about each driver, let me know if you agree or disagree with their…

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PR – Red Bull GRC in NYC Recap

Mike Shaw

Red Bull Global Rallycross Race Recap: Volkswagen Rallycross NY IN BRIEF: Tanner Foust’s miserable luck from the onset of the 2014 Red Bull Global Rallycross season appears to be firmly behind him, as his constant speed finally delivered him a victory in Volkswagen Rallycross NY on Sunday. After a penalty to Scott Speed erased a Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross 1-2 finish, Nelson Piquet Jr. stepped up into second place and the points lead, and Ken Block earned his first podium of the year. HEAT RECAPS: Five drivers earned heat victories in six total heats on Saturday,…

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Red Bull GRC Needs a Win in DC as Much as the Drivers

Mike Shaw

Today the newly re-branded Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship kicks off it’s first “normal” USA event in Washington D.C., and it is going to be LIVE on NBC.  Not NBC Sports mind you, but the main NBC network (tune in at 2PM Eastern/ 11AM Pacific).  They have promised   So why does Red Bull GRC need a win?  After a successful event in Barbados the series next stop was X-Games Austin that was quite honestly utter crap.  A combination of poor track design, multiple delays from hot headed drivers causing…

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PR – Red Bull Global Rallycross to Compete at X Games Austin

Mike Shaw

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 4, 2014) — Red Bull Global Rallycross will contest the second round of its 2014 championship on Saturday, June 7, as part of X Games Austin. For the first time, X Games will be held at Circuit of the Americas, the home of Formula One’s United States Grand Prix and one of the most advanced grand prix circuits in the world. “We look forward to participating at X Games this weekend in Austin as part of our multi-year collaboration,” said Colin Dyne, Red Bull GRC CEO.…

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Rally – Red Bull GRC Barbados, What Did We Learn?

Mike Shaw

By now most everyone already knows the results from last weekend’s GRC season opener in Barbados, and I won’t be getting into the results too much.  What I really wanted to focus on are the changes with the newly re-branded Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship as well as some of the more significant moments.  Here’s a run-down of what I observed (at least virtually since I wasn’t physically there and they didn’t have any live video streaming).   1.  Improved Track Design As many of you know, I’ve been very…

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Rally – Red Bull GRC Kicks off in Barbados

Mike Shaw

Although not televised until next weekend on NBC, you can follow all the happenings of the Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship season opener at the Top Gear Festival in Barbados via social networking and their live timing web site.  Sure it isn’t quite the same as the live programming coming later this season, but unless you want to ignore your Twitter and Facebook for a week you might as well delve in.   Red Bull GRC’s Christopher Leone who was nice enough to take the time to be on our…

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Up close and personal: Experiencing my first rally

Mike Shaw

Having been a rally fan for some time, I always felt a slight sense of inauthenticity when I told people rally is my favorite motorsport. Although I’d followed Rally America, WRC and other series from the comfort of home, and attended and photographed rallycross events (GRC and SCCA), I had never been to a stage rally. Last year, I was planning on going to the 2013 Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, but got snowed in, here in Kansas City. I had been looking forward to the event for months…

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Rally America – Serious Opportunity Ahead

Mike Shaw

A month ago I stated that Rally America had some serious issues with so many of last years’ champions or championship contenders not returning for 2014.  I received many comments, some in support of my statements and some thinking I was nothing but a Rally America hater which couldn’t be farther from the truth.  A few others said “just wait good things are coming,” and those were the people that were right.  Maybe I should have been more patient.  I will say that based on the information available at the time,…

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Rally – 2014 Rally in the 100 Acre Wood Preview

Mike Shaw

Round 2 of the Rally America National Championship gets underway this Friday and Saturday at what is traditionally the fastest event of the season, The Rally in the 100 Acre Wood.  Wide roads with firmly packed dirt make for high speeds with drivers frequently butting up against the rev-limiter.  Last year such speeds weren’t possible as a freak storm pounded the area with ice pellets and freezing temperatures that turned the event into Sno*Drift 2.0.  That won’t be the case for 2014 though as the forecast is showing temps in…

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