Welcome to day one of Rally Colorado. This event, due to the high altitudes and flowing roads, provides the drivers & cars with an extreme challenge. Due to the altitude and lack of oxygen cars struggle to reach their full power potential, but oddly enough Rally Colorado features some of the fastest sections in the series.

Information

Ken Block is Driving Dave Mirra’s Super Production Class Subaru Impreza WRX STI, it should be quite a different experience from their Open class especially at these altitudes.

Also as we stated in the preview (but we have to mention it again) Dillon Van Way and Ben Slocom have a wicked new Plaid car wrap designed exclusively by Terra Firma

Updates

10:42 am: Already today we have carnage as car 450 in the Open Light class 1990 Audi Quattro 90 Driven by, Gus Bergstralh and co-driver Kevin Bahus has rolled at the first spectator stage. They are confirmed to be OK.

1:04 pm: Car 466: Brian Gottlieb/Rebecca Ruston is reported out on SS2 with a broken axle. Also car 419: Brian McGuire/Jennifer Kraus is reported to have crashed on SS2. Few details but no injuries.
Crash updates provided by @rally_america

5 Leaders after Special Stage 6:
Pastrana – 32:29.5
ACP – 32:54.6
Block – 33:18.5
Mancin – 33:39.8
Conley – 34:27.9

2:24 pm: Conley broke a drive shaft putting Dillon Van Way and Ben Slocom 11.5 seconds ahead. Talking to Dillon and Ben after 6 stages here is what they had to say:

building back confidence behind the wheel, brake and cooking issues, we are wingless by choice

3:00 pm: Cars are heading to the final 3 stages of day 1.
Car #413 Schmidt / Schnell is out after super special with a problem that he says is “not mechanical.” Schmidt, who is running this event in an E85-powered Subaru, says he’s not sure exactly what is wrong but it might be an issue with the alternative fuel. The veteran isn’t giving up, though. He’s expected to get the car working and re-enter Sunday’s regional event. via rally-america.com

3:34 pm: Ken Block started today in the SP class — ended SS9 in 2WD… Driveshaft went and they finished 9 in front-wheel drive. Will be fixed!
Battle shaping up for third overall. Block’s ahead of Mancin but the Polish driver is picking up the pace.
Pastrana vs ACP for first. ACP lost some time to mechanical issues earlier and with stage times this close it’ll be hard to catch up.
Updates provided by @rally_america

4:40 pm: We caught up with Lucy Block (Ken Blocks wife) who is driving alongside co-driver Chrissie Beavis in car #430 a 1988 VW Golf in Group 2. Here is what she had to say about the end of day one at her second Rally.

its my second rally, the first where I’m driving the whole event. Chrissie and I took turns driving at Maine. The Roads are fast and fun, but you have to keep it tidy. There’s not much room for error as several have found out

5:50 pm: The racing portion of day one is officially over as cars are heading into the parc ferme in downtown Steamboat Springs, CO. However this doesn’t mean we’re done. We will be adding more updates, photos and videos as we organize our assets and relax for a bit. Check back soon

6:34 pm: In some crazy turn of events Travis Pastrana took some huge penalties for hitting some chicane elements dropping him into an unbelievable 8th place. Dillon Van Way was also penalized for hitting a cone on the final stage costing him 3 minutes and dropping him to second behind John Conley in 2WD.
updates via @ACPRally and @MrVanWay

8:11 pm: Day 1 Standings

Open	Super Production	2WD	Light
ACP	Ken Block	John Conley	Tyler Patik
Andi Mancin	Patrick Moro	Dillon Van Way	Andrew Morton
Nathan Conley	Jimmy Keeney	Matthew Leavitt	Aaron McConnell
Mark Fox	Don Conley	Victor Fagan	Peter Olenick

9:54 pm: You didn’t think we were done yet did you? We caught up with Jake Blattner and Dillon Van Way before parc expose ended, here is what they had to say about day 1 and their plans for tomorrow:

Jake Blattner:

having a great time at CO, fun atmosphere great roads. We’re just Keeping it in the middle, same plan for tomorrow.
We’d like to thank Terra Firma for the interview, WRS, National Guard for the keeping our freedom to rally alive, White Oak and the service crew

Dillon Van Way:

altitude is a killer here. As long as the roads are twisty and have rhythym, we’re good. As soon as we lose that, we lose time.
We’re looking forward to day 2. Its cool being really close in times and swapping back and fourth and congratulating each other

10:49 pm: A special thanks to Chris and Zach from Denver for being the Terra Firma Super Fans of the night. Check out the pictures of them sporting TF gear and chillin’ in Dillon Van Way’s car in the photo section below.
Come on out to the Tap House in downtown Steamboat Springs, CO and have a couple drinks with us and discuss the day in review.

Photos

Videos

Interview with Christopher Moore #608 – Group 5 – 1977 Dodge Colt

Interview with Aaron Helton #970 – Group 2 – 1983 VW GTI

Interview with Jeremy Brown #825 – Group 2 – 1992 Toyota MR2

Super Special Stage oval track with ACP and the ever awesome Master of Rally Ceremonies Will Mattox video from Rally America

Ken Block discusses what it’s like to switch from his open car to Dave Mirra’s Super Production car
video from Rally America

Current Standings

source: rally-america.com

Keep checking back and hitting that refresh button because we will be updating with content, pictures and videos all day long.