Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino Win Oregon Trail Rally For the First Time
Ken Block and co-driver Alessandro Gelsomino celebrate winning first place at the Oregon Trail Rally for the first time ever. Photo Credit and source: Ken Block’s facebook video winners announcement.
By Cole Goodwin
Oregon Trail Rally held their three day rally racing competition in locations in Portland, OR Goldendale, WA and Dufur, OR on May 20th-22nd. Over 75 local and professional teams raced in the event, which is the fourth round of the American Rally Associations National Championship.
Drivers and spectators gather in downtown Goldendale, on May 21st. Photo Credit: Robin Denning
The rally included diverse stages, high speeds, technical turns, tarmac and gravel road surfaces.
Ken Block and co-driver Alessandro Gelsomino from the Hoonigan Racing Division came in first in the competition. Block drove a Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC in the competition and had an overall time of 1:20:41.6, meaning they finished with almost a minute lead ahead of the competition.
Ken Block holds his trophy and celebrates winning first place at the Oregon Trail Rally for the first time ever with some champagne. Photo Credit and source: Ken Block’s facebook video winners announcement.
“It’s a special win at the Oregon Trail Rally for Ken and I and one that was definitely hard fought,” said Gelsomino in a winning announcement on his facebook page. “Massive thanks to our amazing sponsors, team, management, media and event marshals and organizer.”
“It feels especially good after the incident we had at the previous race - and this puts us right back in contention for the championship title,” said Block on his facebook page. “BIG thanks again to the Hoonigan Racing Division and 2C Competition teams for the amazing effort!”
Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino catch some air on The Dalles Mountain. Photo Credit and source: Ken Block’s facebook video winners announcement.
Brandon Semenuk and his co-driver Keaton Williams from Subaru Motorsports USA drove a Subaru WRX STI into second place in the competition with a time of 1:21:37.0. Semenuk and co-pilot John Hall were the winners of the 2021 Oregon Trail Rally.
Travis Pastrana and his co-driver Rhianon Gelsomino from Subaru Motorsports USA also drove a Subaru WRX STI and came in just fourteen seconds behind Semeunk at 1:21:51.2.
