“GO HEAD-TO-HEAD IN TYRE-SLAYING MACHINERY”
GRiD – the ultimate Gymkhana competition. It made its debut at X- Games in Los Angeles back in 2013 and is open to anyone who dares to compete against other petrolheads in modified motors that meet the rules of participation.
Partly influenced by the disciplines of autocross, Time Attack and foot-to-the-floor rallying, GRiD drivers are required to negotiate a tricky obstacle course (that’ll be the GRiD bit explained) with a predetermined sequence of drifts, figure eights, donuts and slaloms. Of course, polished physical driving skills are a requirement, but mental training is also needed due to the fact that participants must memorise track layouts and sequences before having a bash at setting the quickest time. Obstacles include cones, tyres, barrels, sponsor structures and K-rail, all of which must be manoeuvred around without error. That’s not exactly an easy task when each GRiD design is kept under wraps until the event’s practice sessions!
Split into two classes ( rearwheel drive and all-wheel drive), competitors are randomly selected to go head-to-head in tyre-slaying machinery ranging from modified road-legal racers to FIA World Rally Championship chariots, with drivers from backgrounds just as diverse. To prove the point, this year’s Gymkhana GRiD attracted an army of amateurs as well as WRC champion, Petter Solberg, World Rallycross title holder, Liam Doran, and British Drift Championship winner, Shane Lynch. Oh, and then there was Mr Block…
Perhaps motivated by the success ol’ Ken has been having with his Monster Energy Fiesta ST RX43 (a 600bhp turbocharged AWD beast capable of 0-60mph in under two seconds), many of those who booked a spot at the GRiD finals that took place a few weeks ago turned up in heavily modified fast Fords. RS-badged Escorts, Sierras and Sapphires all took to the asphalt hoping to embarrass the mass of Japanese cars in attendance, with further Blue Oval support coming from Block’s Norwegian teammate, two-time World Rallycross champ Andreas Bakkerud, and his UK-built Hoonigan Racing Division 1978 Mk2 Escort.