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Block: The man the WRC needs

To many, Ken Block is the man behind the popular Gymkhana videos. But the 42-year-old American is committed to succeeding in the World Rally Championship, as he tells Matt Beer. And the truth is that the sport needs him

This year, two newcomers arrived in the World Rally Championship with the global profile to awaken a huge new audience to the spectacular, but underperforming, sport. One was a former Formula 1 world champion not particularly renowned as a showman. The other was a 42-year-old American whose incredible stunt driving had made him an internet sensation. They could hardly be more different - but they're the men who could revitalise the WRC.

In the motorsport press, Kimi Raikkonen's WRC jump has attracted all the attention. But if you're looking for someone who could really turn a new crowd onto rallying, then Monster Ford's Ken Block might just out-strip his Finnish fellow rookie.