Ken Block: A TrackDays Tribute - News

Ken Block was a name synonymous with the world of motorsports and automotive culture as one of its most accomplished rally drivers.

Following the sudden and tragic news this week about his untimely death on Monday (2nd January) following a snowmobile accident in Utah, at TrackDays.co.uk we wanted to take a moment to celebrate the career of this legendary motorsport driver who has had such a huge influence on so many across the globe.

Over the course of his career, Block made a name for himself as a professional rally driver, stunt driver, and all-round motoring hero. Born in Long Beach, California in 1967, Block developed a love for cars and racing from a young age.

He began his career as a professional rally driver in 2005, competing in the Rally America National Championship. In the same year, Block won Rally America's Rookie of the Year then followed that up with many rallycross medals at the X games, as well as becoming the first American to drive in the World Rally Championship. Block's love for extreme action sports meant he also competed in motocross, skateboarding and snowboarding.

In addition to his successes on the rally circuit, Block became renowned for his incredible driving skills and his ability to perform jaw dropping stunts and tricks with his cars. He reached a new audience following his switch to YouTube and was featured in numerous videos which went viral where Block would push cars to their absolute limits, performing incredible feats of driving prowess and pinpoint precision.

His hugely popular 'Gymkhana' series, amassed millions of views on the popular social media channel. One video in collaboration with DC shoes, where he raced around the closed streets of San Francisco undertaking various stunt challenges, has amassed over 114 million views since its release just over a decade ago.

As well as YouTube, Block became a popular face in the video game world, featuring originally as a driver in Dirt 2, before expanding his role in Dirt 3 with an addition of a specific 'Gymkhana' mode. He also appeared in the 2015 reboot of the Need for Speed franchise and his Hoonigan branded cars have also appeared in the Forza racing series.

Block appeared a few times on Top Gear, with the BBC being forced to apologise following an infamous stunt with Matt LeBlanc which left tyre marks around the Cenotaph. The footage of the incident was never aired but the tour around London is still Top Gear's most viewed film on YouTube.

However, despite all of his successes, Ken Block is perhaps most loved in the industry for his laid back personality and wicked sense of humour, which endeared him to fans and made him one of the most likeable figures in the world of motorsport.

Whether he was competing on the rally circuit or performing incredible stunts with his cars, Ken Block was always pushing the limits of what is possible in a car and inspiring fans around the world to do the same.

In short, Ken Block was a true icon of the motoring world and will be sorely missed by millions of people across the globe. We send our thoughts to his family, friends and those who knew him at this time.