The WRX STI that gave the late and legendary Ken Block his first overall win at 100 Acre Wood (and set the world record for the longest distance jump – 171 feet) was in attendance to honor the visionary driver as his number 43 was retired.
With almost 70 competitor entries, the Parc Expose drew quite the crowd, with rally fans and locals alike stopping in to get a close up of the rally cars.
Careful preparation and command of the pace notes was key as competition grew ever more throughout the rally.
Semenuk signs more than just photos at the Parc Expose, shown here autographing one fan’s glovebox door.
With some 236 transit miles compared to 125 stage miles, careful commuting at the speed limit is as important as full-sends on the courses themselves.
100 Acre Wood is a fast and technical rally – this year, Brandon Semenuk’s #1 WRX STI saw average speeds of more than 77 miles per hour.
Every tenth of a second mattered on day 2 as the relentless battle for first place carried on.
Temperatures dropped as day turned into night in the final stages of Day 2, while competition for the overall lead was fiercer than ever.
Brandon Semenuk and Keaton Williams took their second victory early in the 2023 season, managing a first-place finish by a narrow 6.8 seconds overall.
Both rally days were cold, sunny, and dry, but heavy rain the day before rally start made for damp conditions.
The #1 WRX STI hurtles sideways through the notoriously rutted roads of 100 Acre Wood Rally
A brush with a tree on Stage 9 called for the quick installation of a replacement bumper; nothing an experienced rally mechanic can’t fix in seconds.
