History of Ken Block in Timeline
Ken Block, an American professional rally driver, was renowned for his association with the Hoonigan Racing Division, formerly Monster World Rally Team. A co-founder of DC Shoes, he transcended motorsport, showcasing his versatility across action sports including skateboarding, snowboarding, and motocross.
November 21, 1967: Birth of Ken Block
Ken Block was born on November 21, 1967.
1978: Ford Escort Mk2 RS Wheel Specifications
Ken Block's 1978 Ford Escort Mk2 RS was outfitted with Rotiform GTB wheels, showcasing their collaboration. These wheels, featuring a 4x108 PCD, a 13 offset, and a 17x9 tire width, are forged Monoblock style wheels finished in gloss white, reflecting Block's preference for both performance and style.
2005: Ken Block's National Rally Debut
Ken Block began his National rallying career in 2005 with the Vermont SportsCar team, driving a 2005 Subaru WRX STi. He achieved five top-five finishes and was awarded Rally America Rookie of the Year.
2005: Participation in Gumball 3000 Rally
Ken Block participated in the 2005 Gumball 3000 Rally, using three modified 2004 Subaru WRX STis sponsored by DC Shoes
October 1, 2006: Birth of Lia Block
Ken Block's daughter, Lia Block, was born on October 1, 2006.
2006: Stunt Junkies Appearance
During a 2006 episode of the Discovery Channel's show "Stunt Junkies," Ken Block executed a remarkable stunt. He successfully jumped his Subaru WRX STi rally car, achieving a distance of 171 feet (52 meters) and a maximum height of 25 feet (7.6 meters).
2006: New Sponsorship Deal and X Games Debut
In 2006, Block signed a sponsorship deal with Subaru, joining the "Subaru Rally Team USA". He also competed in his first X Games rally event, winning bronze.
2006: One Lap of America Competition
In 2006, Ken Block participated in the One Lap of America competition, partnering with Brian Scotto. Driving a 2006 Subaru WRX STi, they secured the forty-fifth position overall.
December 2007: DC Shoes Snowboarding Team Collaboration
In December 2007, Ken Block joined forces with the DC Shoes Snowboarding team at New Zealand's Snow Park. Demonstrating his daredevil spirit, he executed massive jumps and assisted snowboarders with tricks, all while maneuvering his rally car on the mountain. Unfortunately, a crash landing from a significant jump resulted in a fractured vertebra, leading to his hospitalization. This extraordinary session earned a spot on the cover of Snowboarder Magazine's December 2007 issue and was featured in the MTN.LAB 1.5 DVD.
2007: X Games Silver Medal and World Rally Championship Debut
Block won a silver medal at the X Games XIII rally event in 2007. He also debuted in the World Rally Championship, recording impressive stage times in Rally New Zealand.
October 17, 2008: Second Place Finish in Rally America National Championship
Ken Block finished second overall in the 2008 Rally America National Championship, with a notable win at the Lake Superior Performance Rally stage.
2008: Canadian Rally Win and X Games Podium
In 2008, Block secured his first Canadian rally win at the Rallye Baie-des Chaleurs. He also tied for third place at X Games XIV after both he and Dave Mirra experienced car issues.
2009: Top Gear Interview with James May
Ken Block's first appearance on the BBC's renowned motoring program "Top Gear" was in 2009. He sat down with presenter James May for an interview, discussing his career and passion for motorsports.
2009: Colin McRae: Dirt 2 Appearance
Ken Block was featured as a driver in Codemasters' "Colin McRae: Dirt 2" video game released in 2009, alongside his Subaru Rally Team USA Impreza.
2009: Top Gear Appearance
Ken Block appeared on the BBC's Top Gear in 2009, demonstrating his Gymkhana-style driving for James May.
August 24, 2010: Gymkhana 3 Release
On August 24, 2010, Block released the first part of his three-part Gymkhana 3 video, featuring his Ford Fiesta.
September 14, 2010: Gymkhana 3 Success
Block's third Gymkhana video, released on September 14, 2010, garnered over seven million views in its first week on YouTube.
2010: Joining Ford and Breaking Records
Block joined Ford's Monster World Rally Team in 2010, becoming the first American driver to campaign for the World Rally Championship. He also won the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood for a record-breaking fifth consecutive time.
2010: Top Gear Test Track Attempt
Block returned to Top Gear in 2010, attempting to drive the Reliant Robin around the test track but rolled the car and was unable to finish.
2010: Top Gear Reliant Robin Crash
In a brief but memorable appearance on "Top Gear" in 2010, Ken Block was involved in a segment that involved crashing a Reliant Robin, adding a touch of humor to the show.
2010: Gymkhana Grid Co-foundation
Ken Block co-founded Gymkhana Grid in 2010, an annual gymkhana race held globally.
August 16, 2011: Gymkhana Four: The Hollywood Megamercial
The fourth installment of Block's Gymkhana video series, titled "The Hollywood Megamercial," was released on August 16, 2011, and featured Block driving around the Universal Studios backlot.
2011: Crash at Rally de Portugal
During the 2011 Rally de Portugal, Block and his co-driver were hospitalized after a crash during the shakedown stage. Thankfully, they both recovered.
2011: Dirt 3 Appearance
In the 2011 installment of Codemasters' "Dirt" series, "Dirt 3," Ken Block took on roles as both a driver and a gymkhana instructor. The game featured his Monster World Rally Team vehicles, including the Ford Fiesta GYM 3 and the Ken Block Ford Focus WRC.
2011: Global RallyCross Championship Debut
Ken Block began competing in the Global RallyCross Championship in 2011.
July 9, 2012: Gymkhana Five: San Francisco
On July 9, 2012, Block's fifth Gymkhana video was released, showcasing his driving skills in San Francisco alongside motocross rider Travis Pastrana. The video achieved immense popularity, becoming the top-viewed video that week.
2012: Fifth Place Finish in Global RallyCross Championship
Ken Block finished fifth in the Global RallyCross Championship in 2012.
2012: Dirt: Showdown Appearance
Ken Block's Hoonigan/Monster Ford Fiesta was prominently showcased in Codemasters' "Dirt: Showdown" in 2012. His signature gymkhana driving style was integrated into the game's Head-to-Head, Trick Rush, and Freestyle modes.
2013: Top-Ten Finish in Mexican Rally
Block achieved a top-ten finish at the Mexican Rally in 2013, marking a strong start to his season.
2013: Third Place Finish in Global RallyCross Championship
Ken Block finished third in the Global RallyCross Championship in 2013.
2014: Victory in Norway
In 2014, Block won the Norway round of the European Rallycross Championship and placed third in the FIA World Rallycross Championship.
2014: Gymkhana Grid Championship Win
Ken Block emerged victorious in the all-wheel-drive category at the 2014 Gymkhana Grid, triumphing over Jake Archer in a thrilling final duel.
2014: Runner-Up in Global RallyCross Championship
Ken Block was runner-up in the 2014 Global RallyCross Championship.
2015: Need for Speed Appearance
Ken Block was featured as the style icon in the 2015 release of the popular racing video game "Need for Speed."
2015: End of Global RallyCross Championship Run
Ken Block's last season competing in the Global RallyCross Championship was 2015.
2016: Full-Time Competitor in World Rallycross Championship
Block competed full-time in the World Rallycross Championship in 2016.
2016: Top Gear Drifting with Matt LeBlanc
Ken Block returned to "Top Gear" in 2016 for a thrilling segment alongside presenter Matt LeBlanc. He showcased his drifting skills by maneuvering his Hoonicorn through the empty streets of London, creating a visually impressive display of car control.
2017: Ninth Place Finish in World Rallycross Championship
Block finished ninth in the World Rallycross Championship in 2017.
2017: MotorTrend's "Ignition" Appearance
Ken Block made a guest appearance on MotorTrend's automotive show "Ignition" with host Jonny Lieberman in 2017. His appearance was centered around promoting the 2017 Ford Raptor, showcasing his involvement with the automotive brand.
2017: Forza Horizon 3 and Forza Motorsport 7 Appearance
Ken Block's Hoonigan-branded cars made their debut in Microsoft's "Forza" racing video game series through expansion packs for "Forza Horizon 3" and "Forza Motorsport 7" in 2017.
2018: Top Gear Police Chase with Matt LeBlanc, Chris Harris, and Rory Reid
Ken Block's final appearance on "Top Gear" came in 2018, and it involved a lighthearted police chase scenario. Playing the role of a police officer, he pursued presenters Matt LeBlanc, Chris Harris, and Rory Reid, adding an element of fun to the show.
2018: Forza Horizon 4 Appearance
Ken Block's Hoonigan cars were included as launch cars in "Forza Horizon 4," released in 2018.
2018: Return to Americas Rallycross Championship
Block returned to compete full-time in the Americas Rallycross Championship in 2018 and claimed two podiums.
2019: Donegal International Rally Participation
Ken Block journeyed to Ireland in 2019 to compete in the Donegal International Rally, driving a Ford Escort Cosworth. However, his participation was cut short as he crashed out on SS2.
2021: Baja 1000 Race
In 2021, Ken Block took on the challenging Baja 1000 race in the trophy truck class, securing a commendable fourth-place finish.
2021: CSR Racing 2 Collaboration
Ken Block partnered with the mobile drag racing game "CSR Racing 2" in 2021, bringing his brand and vehicles to the popular iOS and Android game.
2021: Rotiform and Fuel Off-Road Collaboration
Ken Block, Rotiform, and Fuel Off-Road, a brand under Wheel Pros, came together in 2021 for a unique collaboration. They created four sets of signature wheels, blending Block's racing aesthetic with Rotiform's and Fuel Off-Road's wheel design expertise.
2021: Forza Horizon 5 Appearance
The Hoonigan cars continued to be featured in the "Forza Horizon" series, appearing as launch cars in "Forza Horizon 5" released in 2021.
2022: Lia Block Begins Racing Career
Lia Block, following in her father's footsteps, embarked on her racing career in 2022, competing in the American Rally Association.
January 2, 2023: Death of Ken Block
Ken Block passed away on January 2, 2023.
January 2023: Death of Ken Block
Ken Block died in a snowmobile accident in January 2023. Before his death, he was the co-owner and "Head Hoonigan In Charge" (HHIC) at Hoonigan Industries.
November 2023: CSR Racing 2 #KB43VER Event
In November 2023, "CSR Racing 2" released an update that included a special event called "#KB43VER." This event featured a playable version of the iconic 1965 Ford Mustang GT Hoonicorn V1, allowing players to experience the thrill of driving Block's legendary vehicle.
November 2023: Lia Block Joins Williams Driver Academy and F1 Academy
In November 2023, Lia Block's racing career reached new heights as she was welcomed into the prestigious Williams Driver Academy. Furthermore, it was revealed that she would be competing in the F1 Academy for the 2024 season with ART Grand Prix.
2023: Cyberpunk 2077 Appearance
In a nod to Ken Block's legacy, a racing-inspired car named "Hoon," bearing the number 43, was introduced in version 2 of CD Projekt Red's "Cyberpunk 2077" in 2023.
2024: Hoonigan Releases Ken Block Gymkhana Video Compilation
In 2024, Hoonigan released a video compilation featuring all of Ken Block's Gymkhana videos, excluding the two made with Top Gear and the BBC.
2024: Lia Block to Compete in F1 Academy
Lia Block is set to make her mark in the F1 Academy, competing in the 2024 season with ART Grand Prix.