When we talk about rally racing on StangTV, usually it has to do with one of two big names: Tanner Foust, or Ken Block. But there is another up-and-coming rally racing for the Blue Oval, and his name is Dillon Von Way. The 2009 2WD Rally America Champion is the current points leader in 2011, having taken first place at the Sno*Drift rally, and third place at the 100 Acre Wood Rally in a stock, rally-prepped Ford Fiesta.
Now though, Van Way is pulling out the big guns, having added a turbocharger, new six-speed transmission, and substantial suspension improvements to his no-longer-stock Fiesta, reports Ford Racing, who sat down with the 19-year-old rally racer and college freshman for an interview.
Currently, Van Way is two points ahead of the other racers in the 2WD class, all without any help from forced induction and instead relying on the Fiesta’s stock 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine to take him to victory. Van Way made the switch from Ford’s Focus to the Fiesta, saying the Fiesta “handles better, and I think it has more potential given its size and the fact that it is lighter.” Van Way, who is a freshmen at Louisiana State University, goes home on weekends to work on his car, which has since received a turbocharger upgrade and a new six-cylinder manual gearbox.
Alas, Van Way’s busy schedule means a very limited time for shakedown runs prior to the next race, the Olympus Rally in Washington state. Take a gander at the interview; it’ll make you wish (not for the first time) that you were 19 once again.
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