Well the 2011 WRC season is just around the corner and there are a bunch of changes coming up. New cars, drivers with new teams and more. So, I thought it was a good time to do a quick update on what was going on.

Last week Ford revealed the new livery for the 2011 season for the new Fiesta WRC car. Ford said it is meant to be an aggressive looking livery. It sure looks good to me.

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This weekend is the first Gymkhana Grid event, put on by Ken Block, DC Shoes and Monster Energy. The Ken Block Invitational event will be held December 3 & 4 at the Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA. Competitors include Ken Block (obviously), Formula Drift driver Dai Yoshiahra (Nissan 240SX), Rally driver Andrew (ACP) Comrie-Picard, Drift/Rally driver and Top Gear America host Tanner Foust, Drift driver Stephan Verdier (Subaru STi) and most interestingly to me, 2010 Formula Drift Champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. in Ken Block’s personal car a 1978 Ford Escort Mk2. Vaughn Gittin JR normally drives a Ford Mustang for the Ford / Monster Team.

Vauhn Gittin JR will be driving Ken Block's Ford Escort MK2 at this weekend's Gymkhana Grid event.

Missing from the event will be Travis Pastrana who apparently has “forgotten how to turn right” (at least according to the ‘commercial’ put together for the event) since he has left the Subaru Rally Team and officially announced a Nascar campaign for 2011, teaming up with Michael Waltrip racing. More…

Rhys Millen recently teased a Climb Attack video made in conjunction with Hankook and Red Bull and it’s finally here. Rhys took his Hyundai Genesis Coupe ‘drift’ car up the beautiful slopes of Serra do Rio do Rastro, sliding and drifting his way up leaving behind clouds of smoke. I’m not sure how he had any tires at all left by the time he was there as you can see long black marks behind him in the smoke as he drifts nearly the entire thing. Enjoy Red Bull and Rhys Millen’s video Climb Attack Brazil video below.

This rumor actually has come credibility behind it, however unlikely it may seem. Petter put on a spectacular show as a privateer this year, but does not want to try it again next year. He is in talks with both Ford and Citroen for a WRC manufacturers seat, but nothing is confirmed.

Petter Solberg is hoping for a WRC manufacturer seat next year, but there are other possibilities as well.

Solberg said recently, “”I’m tired of having to chase the deals. For the last two years, I have been on planes and in meetings non-stop. And when I haven’t been doing that, I’ve been driving, testing and working with the team. I feel like I haven’t seen my family for two years. I don’t think it’s fair to carry on like this. I want to go to a manufacturer team and I want to fight, that’s all.” That is very understandable, it has to be tough trying to scrap together the money and then focus on driving each event. More…

The updated PAX indexing factors have been release for the 2011 season. The average change is just .71%, so in other words not much changed. It appears that the ST classes have become a bit closer. Full Solo PAX/RTP list below:

For historical PAX values visit Rick Ruth’s PAX/RTP page

Petter Solberg had warned Sebastien Ogier before the World Rally Championship’s final event, Wales Rally GB, that his 2nd place standing in the driver’s championship was not necessarily safe. It turns out Solberg was absolutely right. While Loeb claimed his 62nd WRC win, the big news was Solberg, as he challenged him all weekend for the top spot. Solberg was very impressive, especially considering some of the problems he faced, but Loeb was able to hold him off.

Sebastien Loeb claims his 62nd WRC Victory at Wales Rally GB

Solberg’s Citroen suffered gearbox issues on Day 1 which cost him the opening day lead. Solberg said that the issues cost him at least 10-15 seconds. “When we wanted first it would go to fourth for example and when you can’t trust the car it’s difficult to push properly.” Solberg’s co-driver Patterson said, ““On the second Sweet Lamb stage the car actually stopped because we had no gears.” Solberg also drove the first day without a starter motor, which caused him to drive more cautiously and make sure the car kept running.
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Team GotCone driver and GotCone.com blog contributor Christy Carlson made her Rally America debut last weekend at the Rally America Nocona Stomp Rally in Nocona, TX. After finishing 4th in G2 in the Nocona Stomp Rally I on Saturday morning, Carlson and co-driver Adam Kniepp picked up the pace in the Nissan Sentra SE-R rally car for the afternoon to claim 2nd place overall for Nocona Stomp Rally II.

Carlson said, “It felt strangely comfortable, as though this was meant to be.” after suiting up and getting ready for the first stage of the rally. Early on she said she was telling herself, “Just feel out the car. I’m not here to win, I’m just here to finish this one… so make sure you can finish.” That attitude changed after seeing the results for the morning stages. “Its time to show them that there really is a competitive female in this sport now.”, she said. She felt much more comfortable with the car and her co-driver in the afternoon and was able to ‘dial it up’ a bit. She finished just 40 seconds behind the leader and in 2nd place overall. More…

Subaru has announced today that Travis Pastrana has left the Subaru Rally Team. Pastrana’s contract with Subaru was up for renewal this year and Pastrana has decided not to pursue a new contract with Subaru. Pastrana has won 4 Rally America Championships with Subaru between 2006 and 2009, while winning 22 rallies and making 40 podium appearances. He also won 2 gold and one silver medal at the ESPN X Games Rally competitions while with Subaru.

Travis Pastrana has officially left the Subaru Rally Team

“Travis brought rally to a whole new audience through the rally championship and, of course, through his spectacular appearances at X Games,” said Tim Mahoney, chief marketing officer of Subaru of America. “We wholeheartedly thank him for his outstanding performances with Subaru Rally Team USA and wish him well in his future endeavors.” More…

The latest rumor to sweep the WRC world is that Monster Energy Ford World Rally driver Ken Block and Red Bull Citroen driver Kimi Raikkonen will be teaming up for the 2011 WRC season. There seems to be some credibility to these rumors, even though it makes little sense currently with each driver sponsored by different manufacturers and energy drink companies. My guess would be that Kimi would be switching over to Monster and driving a Fiesta next year if this were to happen.

Kimi Raikkonen drives at RACC Rally Deutschland in Germany

Kimi has stated that it is WRC or nothing for 2011, confirming his dedication to WRC. Rumors were that Kimi was seeking out a ride in a F1 car for 2011, but would only go with a team that could provide him a car that could win. It seems all the F1 negotiations have fallen through and he will try to be back in WRC next year. This may be tough for Kimi to find a ride, considering his record this year which was characterized by him rolling his Citroen Rally car in the shakedown stage in Spain and was forced to retire before the event had even begun. More…