Ken Block to Join Monster WRC Team

The WRC world is about to heat up next season, with rumors surfacing that rally and extreme sports star Ken Block is about to sign a deal with Monster Energy Drink World Rally Team, in a move which according to Autosport may be one of the most important in the history of the sport. Not necessarily because he will join WRC, but because, by doing so, the championship may head States side in the upcoming years.

According to the source, Block will team up with Chris Atkinson, former Subaru and Citroen Junior Rally team driver. The deal will be signed for a three-year period and is expected to be closed next month.

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

The deal will be completed through Wasserman Media Group, Block's management team. The news was not confirmed by the American, who is currently under contract with another Monster Energy Drink rally America team, Subaru USA.

The cars both of the drivers are expected to get for their WRC endeavor are 2009 model year Ford Focus WRC, to be used for around half of the season. 2010 will see them racing for the entire season.

Block may prove to be a good choice for Monster's future WRC team, as the driver/stuntman/skateboarder/businessman/and so on was named Rally America's Rookie of the Year in 2005, when he debuted in the series.