MOTORSPORT: Atko and Block create World Rally superteam

Special report

Australian World Rally Championship driver Chris Atkinson is on the verge of announcing a new deal to return to the series next year alongside American Ken Block. English media outlet Autosport is reporting that Monster Energy drink company will back the two-car team in a three-year deal.

The report says the pair will run a limited schedule in 2010 before embarking on a full-time program in 2011 and '12. The pair will drive 2009-specification Ford Focus WRC cars, run as a satellite operation by blue oval factory squad, M-Sport.

Atkinson has been without a full-time ride this year after Subaru pulled out of the WRC at the end of the 2008 season. He made one appearance in this year's championship, driving a Citroen C4 for the French firm's Junior Team at Rally Ireland.

Although there has been no official comment from any party involved, it is expected an official announcement will take place in a matter of weeks.

"Our clear objective is to get Chris back in the WRC in a competitive car as soon as possible, and we're doing everything we can to make that happen," Atkinson's manager told wrc.com. "We're having ongoing discussions with a number of different parties for 2010 but, as you'd expect, we can't comment on any individual stories."

The deal would be a massive boost for the beleaguered WRC, not only adding two more cars to the field, but also securing one of the sport's biggest stars in Block. Although the American only competes in his national series, he has obtained world wide popularity and fame courtesy of his Gymkhana videos.

It would also give the WRC the opportunity to get back into the North American market after decades away.

"Ken Block is an iconic figure in US motorsport and a major box office personality," WRC promoter, Simon Long, told Autosport. "It wouldn't get much better than this for the WRC going into North America."

In his interview with the Carsales Network earlier this year, Block admitted he has always had a desire to compete in the WRC.

"Yeah, I'd love to, someday, drive a World Rally car; they are incredible machines," Block said. "I don't know if I'll ever have the opportunity, but we'll see."

He went on to add: "I don't really have any goals in rally. I just enjoy being able to do some of the fun stuff I do in the car. Like doing some of the jump stuff and the stuff on the ski resorts and doing the Gymkhana stuff, I've had an amazing career in rally and it's been very, very fun.

"As far as driving and my skills go, I've always said I will continue to go as far as my skills will take me. So if my skills ever take me to a World Rally car I would be very happy, but if I got into a World Rally today I would just be a long ways off trying to compete with the top guys; I just need more experience. I get more experience every year and maybe someday I'll be there but it's still a little ways away."

Perhaps we should have read a little more into the recent video of Atkinson and Block thrashing a Ford Escort...

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