STPR has passed. Ken Block took his fourth rally win of the season, and now leads the championship.
National Championship Rundown
Ken Block now leads the 2022 ARA National Standings for the first time this season. This is also the first time a Subaru hasn’t been on top of the podium. Brandon Semenuk would fall to second overall. Semenuk now sits 17 points behind Block. Travis Pastrana now sits six points behind Semenuk. Anything is possible at the Lake Superior Performance Rally. Tom Williams remains fourth overall, sitting 20 points above Seamus Burke.
Championship Points After STPR
- Block 139
- Semenuk 122
- Pastrana 116
- Williams 58
- Burke 38
LN4 Championship Rundown
Dave Carapetyan’s LN4 Drivers Championship lead was short, only leading for one event. Now Chris Sladek leads the Championship. Leading by only eight points. It is still possible for Carapetyan to win but it’s unlikely. Carapetyan led pretty much the entire rally until he was forced to retire on SS13 due to a rear differential issue.
O2WD Championship Rundown
With a class win at STPR Seamus Burke has won the O2WD class. Sitting 28 points ahead of Michael Hooper. Second and third are still yet to be decided as Hooper and Nickelson sit six points apart heading into LSPR. Currently neither Hooper or Nickelson are registered for LSPR, but Lia Block who sits 21 points behind Hooper is entered.
Block’s Dominance
Ken Block dominated the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally. Winning the rally by over a minute. Block led from start to finish, beating Semenuk by 0.5 seconds on SS1. Block would win 8 out of 16 stages at STPR. Winning six of those on day one, and two on day two.
Three Blocks In The Top 10
Ken Block wasn’t the only Block in the top 10 this weekend. As both his wife Lucy and daughter Lia joined him. Lucy placed eighth overall with Lia placing ninth.
Misfortune For Semenuk Or A Helping Hand?
Brandon Semenuk retired just two stages into STPR and didn’t rejoin until day two. Thus meaning he would be too far out of a podium position, let alone a top 10 position. For Semenuk was this misfortune or a helping hand? It can be looked at both ways, as yes he did lose points. While also lowering the amount of points he drops from 17 to 6. Meaning him and Block don’t drop the same points. With drop points Semenuk only sits six points behind Block. Meaning the championship can go either way still.
A Look Ahead To LSPR
The Lake Superior Performance Rally is the final event on the 2022 American Rally Association national calendar. Actively it’s shaping up to be a close, intense battle between Ken Block and Brandon Semenuk to win the championship. A battle where every single tenth will matter just that bit more than normal, where even the tiniest of mistakes can make or break your championship hopes and dreams. It all comes down to the wire at LSPR.
STPR Recaps
My name is Joe Moore. I am a writer for Belly Up Hockey, Belly Up Racing, and Belly Up Sports. You can find me on Twitter.
