Ken Block Block in South Africa, November 2017Nationality AmericanBornKenneth Paul Block
November 21, 1967
California, U.S.[1]DiedJanuary 2, 2023 (elderly 55)
close to Woodland, UtahDebut Ken Block season2014Current teamHoonigan Racing DivisionCar number43Starts26Wins0Podiums2Best finish9th in 2017Years active2014Former teamsHoonigan Racing DivisionStarts1Wins1Podiums1Best finish15th in 2014Years active2011–2015Former teamsHoonigan Racing Division
Monster World Ken Block Rally TeamStarts39Wins6Podiums12Best finish2nd in 2014Years active2005–2010,2012–2014Car number43Co-driving force Alex GelsominoFormer teamsHoonigan Racing Division
Monster World Rally TeamStarts60Wins16Podiums28Best finish2nd Overall in Ken Block 2006, 2008, and 2013Active years2007–2008, 2010–2014, 2018Co-motive force Alex GelsominoTeamsM-Sport World Rally Team
Hoonigan Racing Division
Monster World Rally Team
Subaru Rally Team USARallies24Championships0Rally wins0Podiums0Stage wins0Total points18First rally2007 Rally MéxicoLast rally2018 Rally Catalunya
Kenneth Paul Block (November 21, 1967 – January 2, 2023)[2] was an American expert rally driver with the Hoonigan Racing Division, previously referred to as the Monster World Rally Team. Block Ken Block changed into also one Ken Block of the co-founders of DC Shoes.[quotation wished] He additionally Ken Block competed in many action sports activities events, which include skateboarding, snowboarding, and motocross. After promoting his possession of DC Shoes, Block shifted his business consciousness to Hoonigan Ken Block Industries, an garb brand for car fanatics. He changed into the co-owner and “Head Hoonigan In Charge” (HHIC) at the organisation before his demise.[3]
In January 2021, Hoonigan Racing Division and Ford Performance introduced Ken Block that they have been parting approaches after 11 years.[four] In April, Block introduced that he would be going returned to Subaru.[5] In September, Block introduced that he could be on a Ken Block new partnership with Audi for “joint initiatives inside the area of electric mobility”.[6]Rallying2005
In 2005, Block started out his National rallying career with the Vermont SportsCar team.[7] Vermont SportsCar organized a 2005 Subaru WRX STi for Block to compete. His first occasion of the rallying season changed into Sno*Drift, wherein he ended up completing 7th overall and fifth in the Group N class.[8] During the 2005 season, Block had five pinnacle 5 finishes and located 0.33 overall inside the Group A magnificence and fourth standard within the Rally America National Championship.[7] At the quit of his first rallying yr, Ken Block had gained the Rally America Rookie of the Year award.[9]2006
In 2006, Block, alongside with his DC rally teammate Travis Pastrana, signed a new sponsorship address Subaru.[7] Through this deal with Subaru, the teammates became known as “Subaru Rally Team USA.”[7] With the brand new rally season, Block also were given a emblem-new Vermont SportsCar prepped 2006 Subaru WRX STi.[7] He competed in the first-ever X Games rally event at X Games XII.[7] In the Ken Block competition, Block ended up finishing 1/3 to take the bronze.[7] He went directly to compete inside the 2006 Rally America National Championship, where he Ken Block finished second ordinary.[7]2007
In 2007, Block competed within the X Games XIII rally occasion, wherein he placed Ken Block 2d typical and gained a silver medal.[9] In the 2007 Rally America National Championship, Block completed 0.33 usual.[nine] During this season, Block also entered in a few rounds of the World Rally Championship; Rally Mexico and Rally New Zealand.[8] In Rally New Zealand, Block recorded top-5 stage instances within the Group N class.[eight] At the stop of 2007, Block had executed 19 podiums and 8 average victories in rally activities.[10]2008
In 2008, Block turned into provided with a emblem-new rally-prepped 2008 Subaru WRX STi to compete. Block determined to compete within the Rallye Baie-des Chaleurs of the Canadian Rally Championship to benefit some enjoy along with his new 2008 rally vehicle and prepare for the World Rally Championships Ken Block later inside the year.[11] Block won his first Canadian rally win at the event.[eleven] This turned into best the second event for the brand new vehicle.[eleven] Block and his co-motive force have been unable to get any championship factors at the occasion due to not having a Canadian opposition license.[11]Block competed inside the Rally New York USA competition and completed in first location.[12]In the X Games XIV rally opposition, Block finished tied for third region with Dave Mirra.[13]This incidence became due to each competition having problems with their car. Block, who made it to the semi-finals of the event, had a radiator problem after landing the auto awkwardly on a soar. With each bronze place competitors in damaged vehicles not able to compete, the medals were awarded to each of them.[thirteen]
Block competed within the 2008 Rally America National championship, which concluded on October 17, 2008. In the occasion, he finished 2d normal with a sturdy victory within 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 general role.[14] Next up for Block this rally season is 3 World Rally Championship events.[eight]2009
Block appeared in a segment of motoring display Top Gear.[15]Block filmed the Ken Block hit YouTube video “Gymkhana 2”.[16]2010
For 2010, Block ended his partnership with Subaru, and joined Ford to compete element-time on the World Rally Championship for Monster World Rally Team, wherein he drove a Ford Focus RS WRC 08 collectively with long term co-motive force Alex Gelsomino.[17] Block consequently became the primary ever American driving force to campaign for the World Rally Championship. He scored factors after finishing ninth on the Spain. Also, he ran his 6th season of the Rally America Championship in an open magnificence Ford Fiesta, in addition to his 5th X Games. On February 27, Block received the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood (Rally America) for the 5th consecutive time.This broke the file held by way of John Buffum.[18]2011
On March 23, Block and his co-motive force Alex Gelsomino were taken to medical institution, having rolled their Ford Fiesta RS WRC for the duration of the shakedown degree of the 2011 Rally de Portugal in Faro, Portugal.[19] A consultant of the Monster World Rally crew later said that each guys were first-class.[20]He completed eighth at the France and ninth at Wales, scoring 6 points.2013
On his first race of 2013 season, Block scored properly, coming into pinnacle-ten inside the Mexican rally, as a consequence receiving his first six points for the championship and scored a fine-ever seventh ordinary finish.[21][22]2014
Castrol lower back as Block’s sponsor. He participated in the WRC positioned in Catalunya, Spain. He changed into in tenth vicinity till the last degree where he suffered a tire puncture and lost a vast quantity of time. He finished in 12th, which became his 2nd to ultimate season on the WRC.[23][24]RallycrossX Games
Block’s X Games Ken Block results are as follows:[25]American rallycross
Block competed on the Global RallyCross Championship from 2011 to 2015. He finished runner-up in 2014[26] and third in 2013[27] and fifth in 2012, gathering six wins and 15 Ken Block podiums.[citation wanted]
He back complete-time for the 2018 Americas Rallycross Championship, wherein he claimed two podiums and ranked fourth in factors.[quotation needed]European rallycross
In 2014, Block turned into 0.33 inside the Norway spherical of the FIA World Rallycross Championshipand won the Norway spherical of the European Rallycross Championship.[citation wished]
For the 2016 season, Block determined to compete complete-time inside the World Rallycross Championship.[28]
At Hockenheimring, Germany, Block completed third in the Supercar Final and completed his 2d podium inside the series.[29]
In 2017 he completed 9th in factors, with a exceptional finish of 7th at Britain and France.[citation wanted]Gymkhana
Block produced a series of gymkhana videos which have drawn millions of perspectives on YouTube.[citation wanted]
In 2009, for the BBC show Top Gear, Block took James May out for Gymkhana-style driving at Block’s stunt route at Inyokern Airport, an operational California airport, additionally starring Ricky Carmichael. In 2010 Block took the feature car from the previous episode (a Reliant Robin) for a lap of the Top Gear take a look at song. He rolled the auto and was unable to finish a lap but turned into unharmed.[quotation wished]
On August 24, 2010, Block launched the first of a 3 part Gymkhana three video release featuring his new Ford Fiesta.[30]
On September 14, 2010, Block’s 1/3 Gymkhana video, offering a Ford Fiesta, was launched on YouTube.[31] The video were given more than seven million views in its first week.
On August sixteen, 2011, the fourth Gymkhana video, The Hollywood Megamercial was released on YouTube, featuring Block riding across the Universal Studios backlot.[32]