After a freak mechanical issue during Day One’s night stages at Oregon Trail Rally, where Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino lost their front right wheel while on stage, the Hoonigan Racing Division boys took to the stages outside of Hood River, Oregon on Saturday with the goal of having a much better day of racing.
Starting the day in 4th overall—despite finishing two of four stages the night before with only three wheels on the car—Block soon worked his way into 3rd overall after winning the first stage of the day, SS5. However, Block’s bad luck streak continued, as he suffered a rear driveshaft failure, forcing him to run at roughly 60% of his normal pace. Despite the driveshaft failure, Block managed to maintain his 3rd overall position and finish the morning loop of stages.
After the first service of the day, Block won SS8. But on SS9, luck for the H.H.I.C. changed a bit when Antoine L’Estage, who had been sitting 2nd overall, rolled out of competition, moving Block and Gelsomino into 2nd overall. However, Block suffered a puncture on SS9. He then managed to win SS10, despite getting yet another puncture. After the second service of the day, Block and Gelsomino went out and won SS11, but the bad luck continued on that stage as both Block and rally leader David Higgins hit the same massive embedded rock mid-stage, forcing them to limp their cars back into service to end day two.
“Today was tough,” said Block. “My luck so far this season has just been really bad, but this event has been particularly up and down. The crazy part though, is that despite losing a wheel, having a driveshaft fail, suffering two punctures and hitting a massive rock mid-stage towards the end of the day here, I’m still sitting in 2nd overall and I won four of eight stages today. Hopefully I can find some better luck tomorrow and have a clean final day of racing here in Oregon.”
To see if the guys can catch some better luck on Day Three of Oregon Trail, be sure to follow along here, on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
