Icon of the gymkhana and extremely spectacular videos behind the wheel but also a former rally driver, the American died at the age of 55 during an outing in Utah.
«It is with our deepest regrets that we can confirm that Ken Block passed away today in a snowmobile accident. Ken was a visionary, a pioneer and an icon. And above all, a father and a husband. He will be greatly missed.” In a message posted on its Instagram account, the Honigan Racing team announced the disappearance of Ken Block, aged 55. The American pilot died of his injuries while riding a snowmobile in Wasatch County, Utah. The vehicle overturned before landing on him on a steep incline. At the time of the tragedy, Ken Block was alone when he had gone out in a group a little earlier in the day.
Ken Block had become an icon for motorsport enthusiasts fond of spectacular videos, mind-boggling tricks and millimeter skids, enhanced by slow motion and perfect editing. He had become a world star of the gymkhana, this discipline which consists of going as fast as possible on a course strewn with obstacles. The American collected millions of views on his Youtube channel by posting his exploits shot in unusual, urban or natural landscapes, with the baton of racing cars that he pushed to their limits, even if it meant sending them sometimes (and even often) in the decor.
Ken Block was not just a driving acrobat, he was also a seasoned competitor who rubbed shoulders, from 2005, with the best rally drivers on the planet in the World Championship. Supported by generous sponsors and benefiting from an excellent car, he never really managed to shine against Sébastien Loeb and others. He had learned that in rallying, the slightest error was paid for in cash and his lack of regularity penalized him too much.
25 events in the World Rally Championship
In 25 participations, he has never managed to win a special. His best result, however honorable, was a seventh place in Rally Mexico in 2013. Never mind, the Californian’s mere presence, his good humor with his sharp accent and his repeated jokes, had been enough to give a hell of a spotlight on the discipline delighted to benefit from the presence of this showman.
WRC service park cheerleader, always very popular with other drivers, Ken Block had tried his hand at other championships, including RallyCross (between 2014 and 2017), for three seasons with two podiums but no knocks. of brilliance. This jack-of-all-trades of motorsports had tried to test in Formula 1 in 2011, just to discover the sensations in a narrow single-seater, but his too large size (1.89 cm, 84 kg) had pushed the Toyota executives to cancel the tests.
Followed by two million subscribers on Youtube
His mixed results in various World Championships had in no way scratched the popularity of Ken Block, a formidable businessman. In 1990, he founded DC Shoes, a successful sportswear brand aimed at the universe in which he evolved. He was followed by nearly two million subscribers who regularly waited to thrill to the latest exploits masterfully filmed on his Youtube channel.
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