Travis Pastrana, Ken Block and John Buffum enjoyed their personal battle on the McRae Stages 08

John Buffum finished top USA driver on the McRae Stages

Image: bjmullan

The USA was well represented on the Colin McRae Forest Stages 08 with Travis Pastrana, Ken Block and John Buffum taking part to pay tribute to Colin.

They were meant to be out enjoying themselves but the competitive spirit took over as they began comparing their stage times at the end of the stages.

Pastrana was in a Mk1 Escort (run by Bill Gwynne Motorsport) with co-driver Derek Ringer bedecked in an old pair of Subaru 555 overalls. He enjoyed the experience of the rear wheel drive machine though found it a bit of a handful though he thought it was quite bizarre and funny how the back window "just popped out" over a bump.

A spin from Travis:

Pastrana describes his Mk1 experience to Motorsport News:

Every time we came into a corner I got on the gas and round it went. I could see all the fans laughing and I was laughing to. I got to the end so mission accomplished."

Pastrana interview:

The immaculate Mk1:

Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino were out in an ex-Mikkola Eaton Yale car, run by Bill Gwynne Motorsport, and despite rolling on the test stage he thoughly enjoyed the experience despite several spins, a puncture and gearbox problems.

He is thought to be contemplating purchasing a modern 300bhp Mk2 to use back home. Block also tested an 07 Ford Focus while in GB and may acquire one to compete with next year, perhaps in the WRC.

Ken in the Mk2:

A donut from Block on the first Errochty hairpin:

John Buffum, the winningest driver in American rally history, was out in a Prepfab Porsche 911 and duly beat his young American charges to finish 31st o/a. He had his Vermont SportsCar boss Lance Smith sitting with him who admitted to being a bit rusty as it had been a while since he last sat in a rally car. Buffum admitted he was driving the car at "eight-and-a-half tenths".

Buffum in the Kumho Prepfab 911:

Buffum tells Motorsport News what it was like to beat Pastrana and Block and also his experiences on the event:

They owe me a beer!

We had a few spins on stages one and two. I think that's down to us being a prehistoric crew in a historic car."

Quite a few members of the American rally community were present at the 2008 McRae Stages Rally such as; Nathalie Richard, Kyle Sarasin, Antoine L'estage and Alex Kiruhani amongst others.

Team USA drivers' Final Standings on the Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally 2008:

John Buffum/Lance Smith 31st

Travis Pastrana/Derek Ringer 36th

Ken Block/Alex Gelsomino 52nd

If you have any views on this story please leave a comment below!

• Rally America LSPR 2008 report, photos and video of Ken Block, Alex Gelsomino, Travis Pastrana and John Buffum
• John Buffum interview with RallyBuzz: JB discusses rallying in the US, Pastrana and Block, his upcoming participation on the McRae Stages and plenty more besides
• Travis Pastrana and Ken Block might do the McRae Stages Rally
• Rally Colorado 2008 preview video with some Travis Pastrana and Ken Block stuff too
• Ken Block leads Olympus rally 2008 from Travis Pastrana despite nearly going off