Ken Block

Kenneth Paul Block (November 21, 1967 – January 2, 2023) was an American professional rally driver, extreme sports racer, and business entrepreneur 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 marketing to 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.

His daughters, Lia Block, Kira Block, and his son Mika Block are all also racing drivers.

Early life

Kenneth Paul Block (known by his initials as "KB") was born and raised in Southern California, later San Diego, on November 21, 1967.

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.

2006 In 2006, Block, along with his DC rally teammate Travis Pastrana, signed a new sponsorship deal with Subaru.

2008 In 2008, Block was provided with a brand-new rally-prepped 2008 Subaru WRX STi to compete. Block competed 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. He gained his first Canadian rally win at the event. 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. Next up for Block this rally season is three World Rally Championship events. Block filmed the 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 ninth in 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 eighth at the France and ninth 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 seventh overall finish.

2014

Castrol returned as Block's sponsor. He participated in the WRC located in Catalunya, Spain. He was in tenth 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, 2007: 2nd, 2008: 3rd, 2009: 7th 2010: Rally Racing: 10th RallyCross: 7th 2011: Rally Racing: 11th RallyCross: 13th 2012: 2nd, 2013: Foz do Iguaçu: 8th Munich: 2nd, 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.

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

In 2017, Block finished ninth in points, with a best finish of seventh at Britain and France.

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.

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.

In 2024, Hoonigan released a video compilation containing all of Block's Gymkhana videos and Gymkhana spinoff videos, apart from the two he did with Top Gear and the BBC.

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 Airfield Rallying (2009; Subaru Impreza) Castrol Footkhana: Neymar Jr vs Ken Block (2014; Ford Fiesta) Ken Block Drifts London (2016; Ford Mustang) Ken Block's Terrakhana: The Ultimate Dirt Playground; Swing Arm City Utah (2017; Ford Fiesta) 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 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

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 and a max height of . 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.

Block's 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, as he died before major patch 2.0.

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

On November 20, 2025, Real Racing 3 released update v13.7, which added Ken Block's Audi S1 E-Tron Quattro Hoonitron to the game, and it can be used in two series. The car comes in the official gray and red "Hoonitron" livery, as driven by Block.

Signature wheels In 2021, 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.

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 VCE-M

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

Other appearances on TV/YouTube Block 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, He also appeared in a 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.

In 2017, he appeared briefly in the documentary Dumb: The Story of Big Brother Magazine.

Personal life and death Block was married to wife Lucy Block. His eldest daughter Lia began competing in the American Rally Association in 2022, winning the O2WD Driver's Championship the following year at age 16, before the end of season series, enabling her to enter the final race with her father's legendary 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.

On January 2, 2023, 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. Hoonigan confirmed Block's death. As a mark of respect, the number 43 was permanently retired from the World Rally Championship and the American Rally Association in his honor.

Racing record Complete ARA results

(key)

Complete Rally America results (key)

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 MEX28 POR ARG ITA GRE FIN GER NC 0 Rally FaNZ NZL56 ESP FRA JPN IRE GBR 2008 Subaru Rally Team USA Subaru Impreza WRX STI MON SWE MEX ARG JOR ITA GRE TUR FIN GER NZL30 ESP FRA JPN GBR NC 0 2010 Monster World Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 08 SWE MEX18 JOR TUR24 NZL PORRet BUL FIN GERRet JPN FRA12 ESP9 GBR21 19th 2 2011 Monster World Rally Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC SWE14 MEX12 PORDNS JOR ITA ARG18 GRE FIN GER17 AUS19 FRA8 ESPRet GBR9 22nd 6 2012 Monster World Rally Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC MON SWE MEX9 POR ARG GRE NZL9 FINRet GER GBR FRA ITA ESP 28th 4 2013 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Fiesta RS WRC MON SWE MEX7 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 ESP12 GBR NC 0 2018 Hoonigan Racing Ford Fiesta WRC MON SWE MEX FRA ARG POR ITA FIN GER TUR GBR ESPRet AUS NC 0Source:

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 NZL13 JPN GBR NC 0Source:

Complete Global Rallycross Championship results (key)

Supercar

Complete Americas Rallycross Championship results (key)

Supercar Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 Rank Points 2018 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Focus SIL AUS12 TRO3 AUS26 4th 68Source:

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 NOR1 BEL GER ITA 15th 16Source:

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 NOR3 FIN SWE BEL CAN FRA4 GER ITA TURDNP ARG 16th 32 2016 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Focus RS POR18 HOC3 BEL19 GBR14 NOR14 SWE13 CAN10 FRA6 BAR16 LAT16 GER12 ARG15 14th 63 2017 Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Focus RS BAR9 POR11 HOC11 BEL8 GBR7 NOR8 SWE9 CAN9 FRA7† LAT14 GER14 RSA8 9th 112Source:

† 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 SWE1 LAT 2nd 24Source:

Explanatory notes