Duplessis Dominates Olympus Rally, Crowned 2WD Champion
SEPT. 24, 2012
MOUNT OLYMPUS, Wash. --
CHRIS DUPLESSIS DOMINATES OLYMPUS RALLY; GIVES FORD SECOND RALLY AMERICA TWO-WHEEL-DRIVE CHAMPIONSHIP
• Today’s 2WD win in the Olympus Rally was the second overall for Ford Racing at the final Rally America National event of the 2012 season.
• The win was also the second 2WD Championship for Ford Racing (Dillon Van Way, 2009).
• Fiesta claimed its first 2WD Rally America Championship (Chris Duplessis, 2012).
• Chris Duplessis became a three-time 2WD Champion claiming his first championship in a Ford Fiesta R2.
• The win is Duplessis’ fifth 2WD victory with Ford Racing.
• This also completes a season with a Fiesta on podium in the 2WD class at all six National events.
Ford 2WD Olympus Rally Winners (Car)
2009 – Dillon Van Way (2002 Ford Focus)
2012 – Chris Duplessis (2012 Ford Fiesta R2)
KEN BLOCK, driver of the No. 43 Monster World Rally Team Fiesta H.F.H.V. - ON SECOND RALLY AMERICA OPEN CLASS WIN WITH A FIESTA – “It actually felt really good, I’ve never won Olympus before and have been here a few times always struggling with these roads. I took a new approach this year and really took a lot of my knowledge racing in the WRC and was able to put together a good run and take the win, I’m really stoked. My Ford Fiesta worked exceptionally well on these roads this weekend and I’m stoked to go home with my second win of the year.”
ON FIESTA TEAMMATE CHRIS DUPLESSIS CLASS WIN AND CHAMPIONSHIP – “I’m stoked to see him not only win the race but take the championship also. I know it was a bit of a nervous weekend for him because he just had to finish to win the championship but not only did he win the championship, he finished on top of the two-wheel-drive podium. Great to see that, he has really shown that he has skills and I hope he can continue to win championships.”
CHRIS DUPLESSIS, driver of the No. 70 DirtFish Rally School Fiesta R2 – ON THE RALLY AMERICA CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON – “It was a really, really good season and the Fiesta was awesome all year. We won four national events and got a second so that’s a very good season and we got the Championship. It kind of came down to the last stage, we really just had to finish Olympus but we finished with a win so it’s great.”
ON WINNING FIRST FIESTA TWO-WHEEL-DRIVE CHAMPIONSHIP – “It’s the best one yet. It was almost the hardest one because there is a company riding on my shoulders almost. You have a bunch of people now that want to see you win and not just your friends and family so it was definitely the hardest one but the most fun out of all three for sure.”
ON TWO FIESTA WINS WITH KEN BLOCK LEADING FORD OVERALL AT OLYMPUS RALLY – “It was absolutely awesome to have two wins for the Fiesta at Olympus. The more Ford the better, I hope to see more next year.”
JAMIE ALLISON, Director, Ford Racing ON FORD RACING’ SECOND 2WD CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A FIESTA– "Congratulations to Ken Block for winning overall at Olympus Rally and Chris Duplessis for bringing home the 2WD Championship this weekend, and another championship for Ford in rally. Fiesta is making an impact in rally and with our success this year in Rally America our drivers continue to show just how fast and fun that car is to drive.”
2012 FORD RALLY AMERICA SUCCESS
• Ford secured its second Rally America Championship in the Two-Wheel-Drive class and Fiesta’s first Two-Wheel-Drive Championship with Chris Duplessis and co-driver Alex Kihurani behind the wheel of a 180hp Fiesta R2.
• Chris Duplessis clinched his third Two-Wheel-Drive Championship at Olympus Rally, the final Rally America National Championship event of the 2012 season, finishing first in class. This marks his first Two-Wheel-Drive Championship in a Ford and his fifth podium finish of the year.
• Ken Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino clinched their second Open class win out of two Rally America National Championship events entered in the 2012 season (Rally in the 100 Acre Woods and Olympus Rally).
• EdMcNelly and co-driver Ole Holter finished third in the Two-Wheel-Drive Championship and third in class at Olympus Rally making his second podium appearance in the 2012 season.
• Chris Duplessis put Ford on top of the Two-Wheel-Drive class this season with first place finishes at Sno*Drift Rally, Rally in the 100 Acre Woods, Susquehannock Trail and Olympus Rally.
• Ford became the first manufacturer to win the Two-Wheel-Drive and Open class divisions at the same Rally America National event in 2012 (Rally in the 100 Acre Woods and Olympus Rally). Ken Block won both events in Open class in his Fiesta H.F.F.V. and Chris Duplessis won both events in the Two-Wheel-Drive class in his Fiesta R2.
• Ford’s presence in the Two-Wheel-Drive class continued with a Fiesta on podium at all six National Championship events with nine top-three finishes.
• Fiesta driver Verena Mei made Rally America history as the first female to win the inaugural B Spec Championship and is part of the first all-female team to win a Rally America Championship.
• Today’s 2WD win in the Olympus Rally was the second overall for Ford Racing at the final Rally America National event of the 2012 season.
• The win was also the second 2WD Championship for Ford Racing (Dillon Van Way, 2009).
• Fiesta claimed its first 2WD Rally America Championship (Chris Duplessis, 2012).
• Chris Duplessis became a three-time 2WD Champion claiming his first championship in a Ford Fiesta R2.
• The win is Duplessis’ fifth 2WD victory with Ford Racing.
• This also completes a season with a Fiesta on podium in the 2WD class at all six National events.
Ford 2WD Olympus Rally Winners (Car)
2009 – Dillon Van Way (2002 Ford Focus)
2012 – Chris Duplessis (2012 Ford Fiesta R2)
KEN BLOCK, driver of the No. 43 Monster World Rally Team Fiesta H.F.H.V. - ON SECOND RALLY AMERICA OPEN CLASS WIN WITH A FIESTA – “It actually felt really good, I’ve never won Olympus before and have been here a few times always struggling with these roads. I took a new approach this year and really took a lot of my knowledge racing in the WRC and was able to put together a good run and take the win, I’m really stoked. My Ford Fiesta worked exceptionally well on these roads this weekend and I’m stoked to go home with my second win of the year.”
ON FIESTA TEAMMATE CHRIS DUPLESSIS CLASS WIN AND CHAMPIONSHIP – “I’m stoked to see him not only win the race but take the championship also. I know it was a bit of a nervous weekend for him because he just had to finish to win the championship but not only did he win the championship, he finished on top of the two-wheel-drive podium. Great to see that, he has really shown that he has skills and I hope he can continue to win championships.”
CHRIS DUPLESSIS, driver of the No. 70 DirtFish Rally School Fiesta R2 – ON THE RALLY AMERICA CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON – “It was a really, really good season and the Fiesta was awesome all year. We won four national events and got a second so that’s a very good season and we got the Championship. It kind of came down to the last stage, we really just had to finish Olympus but we finished with a win so it’s great.”
ON WINNING FIRST FIESTA TWO-WHEEL-DRIVE CHAMPIONSHIP – “It’s the best one yet. It was almost the hardest one because there is a company riding on my shoulders almost. You have a bunch of people now that want to see you win and not just your friends and family so it was definitely the hardest one but the most fun out of all three for sure.”
ON TWO FIESTA WINS WITH KEN BLOCK LEADING FORD OVERALL AT OLYMPUS RALLY – “It was absolutely awesome to have two wins for the Fiesta at Olympus. The more Ford the better, I hope to see more next year.”
JAMIE ALLISON, Director, Ford Racing ON FORD RACING’ SECOND 2WD CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A FIESTA– "Congratulations to Ken Block for winning overall at Olympus Rally and Chris Duplessis for bringing home the 2WD Championship this weekend, and another championship for Ford in rally. Fiesta is making an impact in rally and with our success this year in Rally America our drivers continue to show just how fast and fun that car is to drive.”
2012 FORD RALLY AMERICA SUCCESS
• Ford secured its second Rally America Championship in the Two-Wheel-Drive class and Fiesta’s first Two-Wheel-Drive Championship with Chris Duplessis and co-driver Alex Kihurani behind the wheel of a 180hp Fiesta R2.
• Chris Duplessis clinched his third Two-Wheel-Drive Championship at Olympus Rally, the final Rally America National Championship event of the 2012 season, finishing first in class. This marks his first Two-Wheel-Drive Championship in a Ford and his fifth podium finish of the year.
• Ken Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino clinched their second Open class win out of two Rally America National Championship events entered in the 2012 season (Rally in the 100 Acre Woods and Olympus Rally).
• EdMcNelly and co-driver Ole Holter finished third in the Two-Wheel-Drive Championship and third in class at Olympus Rally making his second podium appearance in the 2012 season.
• Chris Duplessis put Ford on top of the Two-Wheel-Drive class this season with first place finishes at Sno*Drift Rally, Rally in the 100 Acre Woods, Susquehannock Trail and Olympus Rally.
• Ford became the first manufacturer to win the Two-Wheel-Drive and Open class divisions at the same Rally America National event in 2012 (Rally in the 100 Acre Woods and Olympus Rally). Ken Block won both events in Open class in his Fiesta H.F.F.V. and Chris Duplessis won both events in the Two-Wheel-Drive class in his Fiesta R2.
• Ford’s presence in the Two-Wheel-Drive class continued with a Fiesta on podium at all six National Championship events with nine top-three finishes.
• Fiesta driver Verena Mei made Rally America history as the first female to win the inaugural B Spec Championship and is part of the first all-female team to win a Rally America Championship.