Ken Block

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Ken Block
Ken Block (USA) (37627512754).jpg
Block in South Africa, November 2017
NationalityUnited States American
Born (1967-11-21) November 21, 1967 (age 54)
Falcon, Colorado
FIA World Rallycross Championship career
Debut season2014
Current teamHoonigan Racing Division
Car number43
Starts26
Wins0
Podiums2
Best finish9th in 2017
FIA ERX Supercar Championship
Years active2014
Former teamsHoonigan Racing Division
Starts1
Wins1
Podiums1
Best finish15th in 2014
Global RallyCross Championship
Years active2015
Former teamsHoonigan Racing Division
Monster World Rally Team
Starts39
Wins6
Podiums12
Best finish2nd in 2014
Rally America
Years active–, –2014
Car number43
Co-driverItaly Alex Gelsomino
Former teamsHoonigan Racing Division
Monster World Rally Team
Starts60
Wins16
Podiums28
Best finish2nd Overall in 2006, 2008, and 2013
World Rally Championship record
Active years20072008, 20102014, 2018
Co-driverItaly Alex Gelsomino
TeamsM-Sport World Rally Team
Hoonigan Racing Division
Monster World Rally Team
Subaru Rally Team USA
Rallies24
Championships0
Rally wins0
Podiums0
Stage wins0
Total points18
First rally2007 Rally México
Last rally2018 Rally Catalunya

Kenneth Paul Block (born November 21, 1967)[1] is a professional rally driver with the Hoonigan Racing Division, formerly known as the Monster World Rally Team. Block is also one of the co-founders of DC Shoes.[2] Over the years, he has also competed in many action sports events, including skateboarding, snowboarding, and motocross. Since selling his ownership of DC Shoes, Block has shifted his business focus to Hoonigan Industries, an apparel brand for auto enthusiasts. He is currently the co-owner and "Head Hoonigan In Charge" (HHIC) at the company.[citation needed]

In January 2021, Hoonigan Racing Division and Ford Performance announced that they were parting ways after 11 years.[3] In April, Block announced that he would be going back to Subaru.[4]

In September 2021, Ken Block announced that he would be on a new partnership with Audi for "joint projects in the field of electric mobility".[5]

Rallying[]

2005[]

In 2005, Block began his National rallying career with the Vermont SportsCar team.[6] 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.[7] 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.[6] At the end of his first rallying year, Ken Block had won the Rally America Rookie of the Year award.[8]

2006[]

In 2006, Block, along with his DC rally teammate Travis Pastrana, signed a new sponsorship deal with Subaru.[6] Through this deal with Subaru, the teammates became known as "Subaru Rally Team USA."[6] With the new rally season, Block also got a brand-new Vermont SportsCar prepped 2006 Subaru WRX STi.[6] He competed in the first-ever X Games rally event at X Games XII.[6] In the competition, Block ended up finishing third to take the bronze.[6] He went on to compete in the 2006 Rally America National Championship, where he finished second overall.[6]

2007[]

In 2007, Block competed in the X Games XIII rally event, where he placed second overall and won a silver medal.[8] In the 2007 Rally America National Championship, Block finished third overall.[8] During this season, Block also entered in a few rounds of the World Rally Championship; Rally Mexico and Rally New Zealand.[7] In Rally New Zealand, Block recorded two top-five stage times in the Group N class.[7] At the end of 2007, Block had achieved 19 podiums and 8 overall victories in rally events.[2]

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.[9] Block gained his first Canadian rally win at the event.[9] This was only the second event for the new car.[9] Block and his co-driver were unable to get any championship points at the event due to not having a Canadian competition license.[9] Block competed in the Rally New York USA competition and finished in first place.[10] In the X Games XIV rally competition, Block finished tied for third place with Dave Mirra.[11] 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.[11]

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 stage, Block finished over one minute ahead of his next closest competitor and secured the second overall position.[12] Next up for Block this rally season is three World Rally Championship events.[7]

2009[]

Block appeared in a segment of motoring show Top Gear.[13] Block filmed the hit YouTube video "Gymkhana 2", making the most viral video of 2009, as well as selling more DC shoes with this "informercial"[citation needed].

2010[]

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

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.[14] 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.[15]

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.[16] A representative of the Monster World Rally team later stated that both men were fine.[17] 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 score a best-ever 7th overall finish.[18][19]

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 last season at the WRC.

Rallycross[]

X Games[]

  • 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, always with a Ford Fiesta. He finished runner-up in 2014 and third in 2013 and fifth in 2012, collecting six wins and 15 podiums.

He 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.[20]

At Hockenheimring, Germany, Block finished third in the Supercar Final and achieved his second podium in the series.[21]

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

Gymkhana[]

Ken Block has produced a series of gymkhana videos which have drawn million 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.[22]

On September 14, 2010, Block's third Gymkhana video, featuring a Ford Fiesta, was released on YouTube.[23] 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.[24]

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.[25]

Main video series
  • Ken Block Gymkhana Practice (2008; Subaru Impreza)[26]
  • Ken Block Gymkhana Two the Infomercial (2009; Subaru Impreza)[27]
  • Ken Block's Gymkhana Three, Part 2; Ultimate Playground; l'Autodrome, France (2010; Ford Fiesta)[28]
  • Ken Block's Gymkhana Four; The Hollywood Megamercial (2011; Ford Fiesta)[29]
  • Ken Block's Gymkhana Five: Ultimate Urban Playground; San Francisco (2012; Ford Fiesta)[30]
  • Ken Block's Gymkhana Six -- Ultimate Gymkhana Grid Course (2013; Ford Fiesta)[31]
  • Ken Block's Gymkhana Seven: Wild in the Streets of Los Angeles (2014; Ford Mustang)[32]
  • Ken Block’s Gymkhana Eight: Ultimate Exotic Playground in Dubai (2016; Ford Fiesta)
  • Ken Block's Gymkhana Nine: Raw Industrial Playground (2016; Ford Fiesta)[33]
  • Ken Block's Gymkhana Ten: The Ultimate Tire Slaying Tour (2018; Ford Fiesta, Escort RS Cosworth, Focus, Mustang and F-150)[34]
Other videos
  • Ken Block Drifts London (2016; Ford Mustang)[35]
  • Ken Block’s Climbkhana: Pikes Peak Featuring the Hoonicorn V2 (2019; Ford F-150)[36]
  • Ken Block’s Climbkhana Two: 914hp Hoonitruck on China's Most Dangerous Road; Tianmen Mountain (2019; Ford F-150)[37]

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.[38][39]

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.[40]

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).[6] The whole episode was dedicated to Block attempting this stunt.

In 2007, Block joined the DC Shoes Snowboarding team at New Zealand's Snow Park.[6] 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.[6]

In 2010, Block co-founded Gymkhana Grid, a gymkhana race held annually around the world.[41] He won all-wheel-drive event in 2014, beating Jake Archer in the final duel.[42][43]

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 appear 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 Forza Horizon 4 and Forza Horizon 5.

Racing record[]

Complete Rally America results[]

(key)

Year Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rank Points
Subaru Impreza WRX STi SNO
5
ORE
7
SUS
3
PIK
4

3

Ret

4
LSP
3
4th 65
Subaru Impreza WRX STi SNO
3

1
ORE
3
SUS
Ret

11

Ret

Ret

1

3
2nd 90
Subaru Impreza WRX STi SNO
6

1
ORE
2
OLY
4
SUS
Ret
NEW
3

2

1
LSP
Ret
3rd 109
Subaru Impreza WRX STi SNO
5

1
OLY
1
ORE
Ret
SUS
Ret
NEW
Ret

Ret

5
LSP
1
2nd 86
2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STi SNO
Ret

1
OLY
Ret
ORE
Ret
SUS
1
NEW
2

Ret

Ret
LSP
3
4th 80
2010 Ford Fiesta SNO
Ret

1
OLY
Ret
ORE
Ret
SUS
Ret
NEW
Ret
13th 27
Ford Fiesta ST SNO

1
ORE
SUS
NEW
OLY
1
4th 44
2013 Ford Fiesta ST SNO
6

Ret
ORE
2
SUS
1
NEW
1

1
LSP
Ret
2nd 93
2014 Ford Fiesta ST SNO

1
ORE
SUS

NEW


12th 22
2015 Ford Fiesta ST SNO

ORE
OLY
STP
NEW
2


14th 17

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

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

Complete Global Rallycross Championship results[]

(key)

Supercar[]

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
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

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

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

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

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

References[]

  1. ^ Emig, Jeff (October 22, 2001). "Catching Up With DC's Ken Block". Transworld Motocross. Archived from the original on August 25, 2009. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  2. ^ a b "Official Site: Bio". kenblockracing.com. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  3. ^ Lyon, Peter (January 25, 2021). "Ford And Driving Icon Ken Block Part Ways After 11-Year Collaboration". Forbes. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  4. ^ Perkins, Chris (April 23, 2021). "Ken Block Will Race a Subaru For the First Time Since 2009". Road & Track. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  5. ^ Bruce, Chris (September 21, 2021). "Ken Block Signs With Audi Promising An Electrifying Future". Motor1.com. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Ken Block". auto.dcshoes.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  7. ^ a b c d "Interview: Ken Block - Part 2". Carolyn Schonafinger. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  8. ^ a b c "2008 Subaru Rally Team USA". rally.subaru.com. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  9. ^ a b c d "Ken Block Flies To His First Canadian Rally Win". snowboard-mag.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  10. ^ "Rally New York USA:USRC Results". rallynewyork.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2008. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  11. ^ a b "Travis Pastrana wins gold medal at 2008 X Games 14 Rally, Tanner Foust silver, as Dave Mirra and Ken Block share bronze". rallybuzz.stagetimes.com. Retrieved November 2, 2008.[dead link]
  12. ^ "Subaru Driver Ken Block Wins Rally Finale at LSPR, SRT USA Finishes 1-2 in Rally America Championship". specialstage.com. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  13. ^ Top Gear, Season 13, Episode 3.
  14. ^ John Neff (January 6, 2010). "Ken Block dropping trademark Subaru for two Fords". Autoblog.
  15. ^ "Rally America". Rally America. Archived from the original on April 5, 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  16. ^ "Ken Block has Massive Wreck on Shakedown Stage". Rally World News. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  17. ^ "WRC: Ogier rocks, Block rolls on Portugal shakedown". crash.net. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  18. ^ "Driver Standings - WRC Results, Positions & Stage Times - wrc.com". Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  19. ^ "WRC.com®- FIA World Rally Championship - Official Website - wrc.com".
  20. ^ Evans, David (January 13, 2016). "Ken Block commits to World Rallycross Championship for 2016". Autosport. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  21. ^ "Mattias Ekström vann på Hockenheim" (in Swedish). Sveriges Television. May 8, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  22. ^ "Gymkhana 3". DC Shoes. Archived from the original on November 26, 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  23. ^ "Ken Block: Gymkhana Three". AUSmotive.com. September 15, 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  24. ^ Sanchez, Karla. "Gymkhana Four – Ken Block Hoons in Hollywood". Motor Trend. Retrieved August 17, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  25. ^ Hardigree, Matt. "Gymkhana 5 Viewed 5.1 Million Times in 24 Hours". Jalopnik. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  26. ^ Ken Block Gymkhana Practice on YouTube
  27. ^ Ken Block Gymkhana Two the Infomercial on YouTube
  28. ^ Ken Block's Gymkhana Three, Part 2; Ultimate Playground; l'Autodrome, France on YouTube
  29. ^ Block's Gymkhana Four; The Hollywood Megamercial on YouTube
  30. ^ Ken Block's Gymkhana Five: Ultimate Urban Playground; San Francisco on YouTube
  31. ^ Ken Block's Gymkhana Six -- Ultimate Gymkhana Grid Course on YouTube
  32. ^ Ken Block's Gymkhana Seven: Wild in the Streets of Los Angeles on YouTube
  33. ^ Ken Block's Gymkhana Nine: Raw Industrial Playground on YouTube
  34. ^ Ken Block's Gymkhana Ten: The Ultimate Tire Slaying Tour on YouTube
  35. ^ Ken Block Drifts London on YouTube
  36. ^ Ken Block’s Climbkhana: Pikes Peak Featuring the Hoonicorn V2 on YouTube
  37. ^ Ken Block’s Climbkhana Two: 914hp Hoonitruck on China's Most Dangerous Road; Tianmen Mountain on YouTube
  38. ^ "Teams 31 - 60". GTspirit.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  39. ^ "Rob Dyrdek back on the rally". gumball3000.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2008. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  40. ^ "2006 Tire Rack One Lap of America: Final Overall Results". onelapofamerica.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2006. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  41. ^ When The Rodeo Came To Town - Remembering The Gymkhana Grid Ken Block Invitational - Bob Hernandez, Super Street / Motor Trend, 10 August 2020
  42. ^ Ken Block takes 2014 Gymkhana GRiD final top spot - Vince Pettit, The Checkered Flag, 3 November 2014
  43. ^ Gratton, Ian. "Ken Block wins Gymkhana GRID 2014". Drifted. Retrieved November 3, 2014.

External links[]

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