Ken Block

Ken Block
Block in 2017
BornKenneth Paul Block
(1967-11-21)November 21, 1967
Long Beach, California, U.S.
DiedJanuary 2, 2023(2023-01-02) (aged 55)
Wasatch County, Utah, U.S.
Related to
Lia Block (daughter)
FIA World Rallycross Championship career
Debut season2014
Car number43
Former teamsHoonigan Racing Division
Starts26
Wins0
Podiums2
Best finish9th in 2017
FIA ERX Supercar Championship
Years active2014
Car number43
Former teamsHoonigan Racing Division
Starts1
Wins100
Podiums1
Best finish15th in 2014
Global RallyCross Championship
Years active2011–2015
Car number43
Former teams
Starts39
Wins6
Podiums12
Best finish2nd in 2014
Rally America
Years active2005–2010, 2012–2014
Car number43
Co-driverItaly Alex Gelsomino
Former teams
Starts60
Wins16
Podiums28
Best finish2nd Overall in 2006, 2008, and 2013.
World Rally Championship record
Active years20072008, 20102014, 2018
Co-driverItaly Alex Gelsomino
Teams
Rallies24
Championships0
Rally wins0
Podiums0
Stage wins0
Total points18
First rally2007 Rally México
Last rally2018 Rally Catalunya

Kenneth Paul Block (November 21, 1967 – January 2, 2023) was an American professional rally driver with the Hoonigan Racing Division, formerly known as the Monster World Rally Team. Block was also one of the co-founders of DC Shoes. He also competed in many action sports events, including skateboarding, snowboarding, and motocross.

After selling his ownership of DC Shoes, Block shifted his business focus to Hoonigan Industries, an apparel brand for auto enthusiasts. He was the co-owner and "Head Hoonigan In Charge" (HHIC) at the company before his death in a snowmobile accident in January 2023.

Rallying

2005

In 2005, Block began his National rallying career with the Vermont SportsCar team. Vermont SportsCar prepared a 2005 Subaru WRX STi for Block to compete. His first event of the rallying season was Sno*Drift, where he ended up finishing seventh overall and fifth in the Group N class. During the 2005 season, Block had five top five finishes and placed third overall in the Group A class and fourth overall in the Rally America National Championship. At the end of his first rallying year, Ken Block had won the Rally America Rookie of the Year award.

2006

In 2006, Block, along with his DC rally teammate Travis Pastrana, signed a new sponsorship deal with Subaru. Through this deal with Subaru, the teammates became known as "Subaru Rally Team USA". With the new rally season, Block also got a brand-new Vermont SportsCar prepped 2006 Subaru WRX STi. He competed in the first-ever X Games rally event at X Games XII. In the competition, Block ended up finishing third to take the bronze. He went on to compete in the 2006 Rally America National Championship, where he finished second overall.

2007

Travis Pastrana and Colin McRae with Ken Block in 2007

In 2007, Block competed in the X Games XIII rally event, where he placed second overall and won a silver medal. In the 2007 Rally America National Championship, Block finished third overall. During this season, Block also entered in a few rounds of the World Rally Championship; Rally Mexico and Rally New Zealand. In Rally New Zealand, Block recorded two top-five stage times in the Group N class. At the end of 2007, Block had achieved 19 podiums and 8 overall victories in rally events.

2008

In 2008, Block was provided with a brand-new rally-prepped 2008 Subaru WRX STi to compete. Block decided to compete in the Rallye Baie-des Chaleurs of the Canadian Rally Championship to gain some experience with his new 2008 rally car and prepare for the World Rally Championships later in the year. Block gained his first Canadian rally win at the event. This was only the second event for the new car. Block and his co-driver were unable to get any championship points at the event due to not having a Canadian competition license. Block competed in the Rally New York USA competition and finished in first place. In the X Games XIV rally competition, Block finished tied for third place with Dave Mirra. This occurrence was due to both competitors having issues with their car. Block, who made it to the semi-finals of the event, had a radiator problem after landing the car awkwardly on a jump. With both bronze place competitors in damaged cars unable to compete, the medals were awarded to both of them.

Block competed in the 2008 Rally America National championship, which concluded on October 17, 2008. In the event, he finished second overall with a strong victory in the last event. In the Lake Superior Performance Rally (LSPR) stage, Block finished over one minute ahead of his next closest competitor and secured the second overall position. Next up for Block this rally season is three World Rally Championship events.

2009

Block testing Ford Fiesta for the 2010 Rally America season
Participation in 2014 Rally Catalunya
Block at the 2016 World RX of Portugal in his Ford Focus RS RX

Block appeared in a segment of motoring show Top Gear. Block filmed the hit YouTube video "Gymkhana 2".

2010

For 2010, Block ended his partnership with Subaru, and joined Ford to compete part-time at the World Rally Championship for Monster World Rally Team, where he drove a Ford Focus RS WRC 08 together with long time co-driver Alex Gelsomino. Block therefore became the first ever American driver to campaign for the World Rally Championship. He scored two points after finishing 9th at the Spain. Also, he ran his sixth season of the Rally America Championship in an open class Ford Fiesta, as well as his fifth X Games. On February 27, Block won the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood (Rally America) for the 5th consecutive time. This broke the record held by John Buffum.

2011

On March 23, Block and his co-driver Alex Gelsomino were taken to hospital, having rolled their Ford Fiesta RS WRC during the shakedown stage of the 2011 Rally de Portugal in Faro, Portugal A representative of the Monster World Rally team later stated that both men were fine. He finished 8th at the France and 9th at Wales, scoring 6 points.

2013

On his first race of 2013 season, Block scored well, entering top-ten in the Mexican rally, thus receiving his first six points for the championship and scored a best-ever 7th overall finish.

2014

Castrol returned as Block's sponsor. He participated in the WRC located in Catalunya, Spain. He was in 10th place until the last stage where he suffered a tire puncture and lost a significant amount of time. He finished in 12th, which was his second to last season at the WRC.

Rallycross

X Games

Block's X Games results are as follows:

  • 2006: 3rd,  Bronze
  • 2007: 2nd,  Silver
  • 2008: 3rd,  Bronze
  • 2009: 7th
  • 2010:
    • Rally Racing: 10th
    • RallyCross: 7th
  • 2011:
    • Rally Racing: 11th
    • RallyCross: 13th
  • 2012: 2nd,  Silver
  • 2013:
    • Foz do Iguaçu: 8th
    • Munich: 2nd,  Silver
    • Los Angeles: 6th
  • 2014: 12th
  • 2015: 11th

American rallycross

Block competed at the Global RallyCross Championship from 2011 to 2015. He finished runner-up in 2014 and third in 2013 and fifth in 2012, collecting six wins and 15 podiums.

Block returned full-time for the 2018 Americas Rallycross Championship, where he claimed two podiums and ranked fourth in points.

European rallycross

In 2014, Block was third in the Norway round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship and won the Norway round of the European Rallycross Championship.

For the 2016 season, Block decided to compete full-time in the World Rallycross Championship.

At Hockenheimring, Germany, Block finished third in the Supercar Final and achieved his second podium in the series.

In 2017, he finished 9th in points, with a best finish of 7th at Britain and France.

Gymkhana

Block produced a series of gymkhana videos which have drawn millions of views on YouTube.

In 2009, for the BBC show Top Gear, Block took James May out for Gymkhana-style driving at Block's stunt course at Inyokern Airport, an operational California airport, also starring Ricky Carmichael. In 2010 Block took the feature car from the previous episode (a Reliant Robin) for a lap of the Top Gear test track. He rolled the car and was unable to complete a lap but was unhurt.

On August 24, 2010, Block released the first of a three part Gymkhana 3 video release featuring his new Ford Fiesta.

On September 14, 2010, Block's third Gymkhana video, featuring a Ford Fiesta, was released on YouTube. The video got more than seven million views in its first week.

On August 16, 2011, the fourth Gymkhana video, The Hollywood Megamercial was released on YouTube, featuring Block driving around the Universal Studios backlot.

On July 9, 2012, Block released his fifth Gymkhana video on YouTube, featuring Block driving his Ford Fiesta in San Francisco and Travis Pastrana on a dirtbike. After 24 hours, the video was viewed 5.1 million times, making it the top-viewed video of the previous week.

Main video series

  • Ken Block Gymkhana Practice (2008; Subaru Impreza)
  • Ken Block Gymkhana Two the Infomercial (2009; Subaru Impreza)
  • Ken Block's Gymkhana Three, Part 2; Ultimate Playground; l'Autodrome, France (2010; Ford Fiesta)
  • Ken Block's Gymkhana Four; The Hollywood Megamercial (2011; Ford Fiesta)
  • Ken Block's Gymkhana Five: Ultimate Urban Playground; San Francisco (2012; Ford Fiesta)
  • Ken Block's Gymkhana Six – Ultimate Gymkhana Grid Course (2013; Ford Fiesta)
  • Ken Block's Gymkhana Seven: Wild in the Streets of Los Angeles (2014; Ford Mustang)
  • Ken Block's Gymkhana Eight: Ultimate Exotic Playground in Dubai (2016; Ford Fiesta)
  • Ken Block's Gymkhana Nine: Raw Industrial Playground (2016; Ford Focus)
  • Ken Block's Gymkhana Ten: The Ultimate Tire Slaying Tour (2018; Ford Fiesta, Escort RS Cosworth, Focus, Mustang and F-150)

Other videos

  • Ken Block Drifts London (2016; Ford Mustang)
  • Ken Block's Climbkhana: Pikes Peak Featuring the Hoonicorn V2 (2017; Ford Mustang)
  • Ken Block's Climbkhana Two: 914hp Hoonitruck on China's Most Dangerous Road; Tianmen Mountain (2019; Ford F-150)
  • Ken Block's Terrakhana: The Ultimate Dirt Playground; Swing Arm City Utah (2020; Ford Fiesta)
  • Ken Block's Electrikhana: High Stakes Playground; Las Vegas, in the Audi S1 Hoonitron (2022; Audi S1 Hoonitron)
  • Ken Block’s Electrikhana Two: One More Playground; Mexico City in the Audi S1 Hoonitron (2023; Audi S1 Hoonitron)

Locations

Gymkhana
No. Car Location
1 Subaru Impreza WRX STI California Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
2 Subaru Impreza WRX STI California Port of Los Angeles
3 Ford Fiesta GYM3 France Autodrome de Montlhéry
4 Ford Fiesta H.F.H.V California Universal Studios Lot
5 California San Francisco
6 Ford Fiesta ST RX43 California San Bernardino International Airport
7 Ford Mustang RTR "Hoonicorn" California Downtown Los Angeles
8 Ford Fiesta ST RX43 United Arab Emirates Dubai
9 Ford Focus RS RX New York (state) Western New York
10 Ford Fiesta WRC Sweden Luleå
Ford Mustang RTR "Hoonicorn V2" Michigan Detroit
Ford Focus RS RX Mexico Guanajuato
Ford Escort RS Cosworth "The Cossie" California Los Angeles
Ford F-150 "Hoonitruck" Texas Shamrock, Texas
Travis Pastrana Takeover
11 Subaru WRX STI "Air Slayer" Maryland Annapolis
12 Subaru Leone GL Wagon "Family Huckster" United States South Florida
Other Videos
Ford Mustang RTR "Hoonicorn" United Kingdom London
Ford Mustang RTR "Hoonicorn V2" Colorado Pikes Peak
Ford F-150 "Hoonitruck" China Tianmen Mountain
Ford Fiesta United States Caineville, Utah
Audi S1 Hoonitron United States Las Vegas
Audi S1 Hoonitron Mexico Mexico City
Source:

Other motorsport activities

In 2005, Block, along with his DC Shoes associates, participated in the Gumball 3000 Rally. For the event, they sent out three modified 2004 Subaru WRX STis sponsored by DC Shoes.

In 2006, Block competed in the One Lap of America competition along with Brian Scotto. They were teamed up in a 2006 Subaru WRX STi and finished forty-fifth overall.

In 2006, for the Discovery Channel show Stunt Junkies, Block jumped his Subaru WRX STi rally car 171 feet (52 m) and a max height of 25 feet (7.6 m).

In 2007, Block joined the DC Shoes Snowboarding team at New Zealand's Snow Park. Block did massive jumps and assisted in snowboarding tricks while driving his rally car on the mountain alongside the snowboarders. A crash after landing a large jump cracked one of the vertebrae in his spine; he was flown to the hospital. The session made the cover of the December 2007 issue of Snowboarder Magazine and closed out the MTN.LAB 1.5 DVD.

In 2010, Block co-founded Gymkhana Grid, a gymkhana race held annually around the world. He won all-wheel-drive event in 2014, beating Jake Archer in the final duel.

In 2019, Block travelled to Ireland to Compete in the Donegal International Rally. He drove an Escort Cosworth for the event. He crashed out on SS2.

In 2021, Block raced in the Baja 1000 in the trophy truck class finishing in 4th.

Block also holds the world record for the world's fastest snowcat, a modified Ford Raptor called the RaptorTrax.

Video games

Block appeared in three installments of Codemasters' Dirt racing video games. Block is featured as a driver in 2009's Colin McRae: Dirt 2, along with his Subaru Rally Team USA Impreza. In 2011's Dirt 3 he is seen as a driver and gymkhana teacher, his Monster World Rally Team vehicles are available in the game, including the Ford Fiesta GYM 3, and the Ken Block Ford Focus WRC. His Hoonigan/Monster Ford Fiesta appears extensively in 2012's Dirt: Showdown, and his trademark gymkhana style of driving is featured at the Head-to-Head and Trick Rush race modes as well as the Freestyle section.

Block appears in the 2015 Need for Speed video game as the style icon.

His Hoonigan-branded cars have also featured in Microsoft's Forza racing video game series. Their first appearance was in expansion packs for Forza Horizon 3 and Forza Motorsport 7 in 2017. Later they were offered as launch cars for 2018's Forza Horizon 4 and 2021's Forza Horizon 5.

In 2021, Block started a collaboration with drag racing game CSR Racing 2, a mobile game for iOS and Android.

In 2023, a racing styled car with the name "Hoon" and number 43 was added to version 2 of CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077.

In November 2023, CSR Racing 2 released an update which added a #KB43VER event featuring a playable 1965 Ford Mustang GT Hoonicorn V1 vehicle.

Signature wheels

In 2021, Ken Block collaborated with Rotiform and Fuel Off-Road through Wheel Pros to make 4 sets of signature wheels.

Rotiform KB-1

  • His 1965 Ford Mustang (aka Hoonicorn) uses the Rotiform KB-1 in a 5x120 PCD, with a 26 offset in a 18x10.5 tire width. It is a forged 3pc type wheel in gloss white.
  • His 1986 Ford RS2000 uses the same wheels in a 54 offset, with a 18x9.5 tire width in a 4x108 PCD. It is a forged mono2 style wheel in gloss white.
  • His 2016 Ford Focus RS uses the same wheels in a 42 offset, with a 19x18.5 tire width in a 5x108 PCD. It is a forged mono2 style wheel in gloss white.

Fuel Off-Road, the Block

  • His 1977 Ford F-150 (aka Hoonitruck) uses the Fuel Block in a 5x120 PCD, with a -48 offset in a 20x10.5 tire width. It is forged beadlock type wheel in gloss white.
  • His 2017 SVC Offroad Ford F-150 Raptor uses the Fuel Block in a 6x135 PCD, with a 0 offset in a 17x9 tire width. It is forged beadlock type wheel in a matte black with a gloss black ring.
  • His 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor uses the Fuel Block in a 6x135 PCD, with a 0 offset in a 17x9 tire width. It is forged beadlock type wheel in a matte black with a gloss black ring.

Rotiform VCM-E

  • His 1994 Ford Escort RS Cosworth WRC AKA Cossie V2 uses the Rotiform VCE-M in a 4x108 PCD, with a 31 offset in a 18x8.5 tire width. It is a forged 3pc in gloss white.
  • His 2015 Ford Fiesta ST RX43 uses the Rotiform VCE-M in a 5x135 PCD, with a 54 offset in a 18x8.5 tire width. It is a forged Monoblock style wheel in gloss white.

Rotiform GTB

His 1978 Ford Escort Mk2 RS uses the Rotiform GTB in a 4x108 PCD, with a 13 offset in a 17x9 tire width. It is a forged Monoblock style wheel in gloss white.

Other appearances on TV/YouTube

Ken Block has made a minor appearance on the MotorTrend show Ignition with Jonny Lieberman. The purpose of his appearance was to promote the 2017 Ford Raptor. Block also appeared four times on the BBC motoring show Top Gear, being interviewed by presenter James May in 2009, before making a brief appearance in 2010 crashing a Reliant Robin, returning in 2016 where he drifted his Hoonicorn around the empty streets of London with Matt LeBlanc, and portraying a police officer chasing LeBlanc, Chris Harris and Rory Reid in 2018. He has also appeared in Daily Driven Exotics vlog as Damon Fryer was invited to race against Lia Block in "Hoonicorn vs the World", a YouTube series on the Hoonigan YouTube Channel.

Death

On January 2, 2023, Ken Block died at age 55 in a snowmobile accident near his ranch in Woodland, Utah. The Wasatch County sheriff's department reported that Block had been riding in the Mill Hollow area when his snowmobile upended on a steep slope and landed on top of him. Block was declared dead at the scene of the accident. As a mark of respect, the number 43 was retired from the World Rally Championship for the 2023 season in his honor. Hoonigan confirmed Block's death.

Personal life

Block was married to wife Lucy Block. His daughter Lia (b. 1 October 2006) began competing in the American Rally Association in 2022, winning the O2WD Driver's Championship the following year at age 16, enabling her to enter the final race with her father's troublesome Ford Escort RS Cosworth. Earlier in 2023, she would enter the Extreme E series for Carl Cox Motorsport. She became a member of the Williams Driver Academy in November 2023 and was announced to compete in F1 Academy for the 2024 season with ART Grand Prix.

Racing record

Complete Rally America results

(key)

Year Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rank Points
2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi SNO
5
OTR
7
STPR
3
PIK
4
MAI
3
OFR
Ret
COL
4
LSPR
3
4th 65
2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi SNO
3
100AW
1
OTR
3
STPR
Ret
MAI
11
OFR
Ret
COL
Ret
LSPR
1
WIL
3
2nd 90
2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STi SNO
6
100AW
1
OTR
2
OLY
4
STPR
Ret
NEFR
3
OFR
2
COL
1
LSPR
Ret
3rd 109
2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi SNO
5
100AW
1
OLY
1
OTR
Ret
STPR
Ret
NEFR
Ret
OFR
Ret
COL
5
LSPR
1
2nd 86
2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STi SNO
Ret
100AW
1
OLY
Ret
OTR
Ret
STPR
1
NEFR
2
OFR
Ret
COL
Ret
LSPR
3
4th 80
2010 Ford Fiesta SNO
Ret
100AW
1
OLY
Ret
OTR
Ret
STPR
Ret
NEFR
Ret
13th 27
2012 Ford Fiesta ST SNO
100AW
1
OTR
STPR
NEFR
OLY
1
4th 44
2013 Ford Fiesta ST SNO
6
100AW
Ret
OTR
2
STPR
1
NEFR
1
OFR
1
LSPR
Ret
2nd 93
2014 Ford Fiesta ST SNO
100AW
1
OTR
STPR
MTW
NEFR
OFR
LSPR
12th 22
2015 Ford Fiesta ST SNO
100AW
OTR
OLY
STP
NEFR
2
OFR
LSPR
14th 17
Source:

Complete WRC results

(key)

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Rank Points
2007 Ken Block Subaru Impreza WRX STI MON
SWE
NOR
MEX
28
POR
ARG
ITA
GRE
FIN
GER
NC 0
Rally Fans NZL
56
ESP
FRA
JPN
IRE
GBR
2008 Subaru Rally Team USA Subaru Impreza WRX STI MON
SWE
MEX
ARG
JOR
ITA
GRE
TUR
FIN
GER
NZL
30
ESP
FRA
JPN
GBR
NC 0
2010 Monster World Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 08 SWE MEX
18
JOR TUR
24
NZL POR
Ret
BUL FIN GER
Ret
JPN FRA
12
ESP
9
GBR
21
19th 2
2011 Monster World Rally Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC SWE
14
MEX
12
POR
DNS
JOR ITA ARG
18
GRE FIN GER
17
AUS
19
FRA
8
ESP
Ret
GBR
9
22nd 6
2012 Monster World Rally Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC MON SWE MEX
9
POR ARG GRE NZL
9
FIN
Ret
GER GBR FRA ITA ESP 28th 4
2013 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Fiesta RS WRC MON SWE MEX
7
POR ARG GRE ITA FIN GER AUS FRA ESP GBR 20th 6
2014 M-Sport World Rally Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC MON SWE MEX POR ARG ITA POL FIN GER AUS FRA ESP
12
GBR NC 0
2018 Hoonigan Racing Ford Fiesta WRC MON SWE MEX FRA ARG POR ITA FIN GER TUR GBR ESP
Ret
AUS NC 0
Source:

PWRC results

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 PWRC Points
2008 Subaru Rally Team USA Subaru Impreza WRX STI SWE ARG GRE TUR FIN NZL
13
JPN GBR NC 0
Source:

Complete Global Rallycross Championship results

(key)

Supercar

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
2011 Monster World Rally Team Ford Fiesta IRW1 IRW2 SEA1 SEA2 PIK1 PIK2 LA1
11
LA2
13
23rd 10
2012 Monster World Rally Team Ford Racing Ford Fiesta CHA
15
TEX
8
LA
2
LOU
5
LV
7
LVC
10
5th 58
2013 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Fiesta ST BRA
9
MUN1
2
MUN2
DSQ
LOU
5
BRI
2
IRW
6
ATL
8
CHA
7
LV
1
3rd 115
2014 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Fiesta ST BAR
10
AUS
11
DC
7
NY
3
CHA
1
DAY
2
LA1
3
LA2
2
SEA
9
LV
1
2nd 376
2015 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Fiesta ST FTA
1
DAY1
8
DAY2
2
MCAS
1
DET1
1
DET2
7
DC
3
LA1
11
LA2
9
BAR1
11
BAR1
10
LV
10
7th 345
Source:

Complete Americas Rallycross Championship results

(key)

Supercar

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 Rank Points
2018 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Focus SIL AUS1
2
TRO
3
AUS2
6
4th 68
Source:

Complete FIA European Rallycross Championship results

(key)

Supercar

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 Rank Points
2014 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Fiesta ST GBR NOR
1
BEL GER ITA 15th 16
Source:

Complete FIA World Rallycross Championship results

(key)

Supercar

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
2014 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Fiesta ST POR GBR NOR
3
FIN SWE BEL CAN FRA
4
GER ITA TUR
DNP
ARG
16th 32
2016 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Focus RS POR
18
HOC
3
BEL
19
GBR
14
NOR
14
SWE
13
CAN
10
FRA
6
BAR
16
LAT
16
GER
12
ARG
15
14th 63
2017 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Focus RS BAR
9
POR
11
HOC
11
BEL
8
GBR
7
NOR
8
SWE
9
CAN
9
FRA
7†
LAT
14
GER
14
RSA
8
9th 112
Source:

Five championship points deducted for receiving three reprimands in a season.

Projekt E

Year Entrant Car 1 2 Rank Points
2020 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Fiesta ERX SWE
1
LAT 2nd 24
Source:

Explanatory notes

  1. ^ There were two Ford Fiesta WRCs used in this scene (one for Ken Block and one for Oliver Solberg)

This page was last updated at 2024-03-13 04:05 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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