Rally driver Ken Block dies in snowmobile crash

Rally racer and Hoonigan co-founder Ken Block has passed away in a snowmobile accident. He was 55 years old.

An official statement from Hoonigan says, “It’s with our deepest regrets that we can confirm that Ken Block passed away in a snowmobile accident today. Ken was a visionary, a pioneer and an icon. And most importantly, a father and husband. He will be incredibly missed.”

• Block had recently collaborated with Audi on an electric drift car
• He’s survived by his wife and three children

The Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office also released a statement confirming that Block was “riding a snowmobile on a steep slope when the snowmobile upended, landing on top of him”.

Ken Block’s legacy

Auto enthusiasts will fondly remember Block for his Gymkhana video series. The Extreme sports ace started his racing career in the USA’s Rally America series in 2005 and later made a few appearances in the World Rally Championship. He then went on to race in the Global Rallycross and FIA World Rallycross Championships.

He’s continued competing in US rallying, and most recently, lost the 2022 title to Brandon Semenuk by a small margin. His daughter Lia and wife Lucy also raced as part of the Hoonigan team.

In 2021, Block teamed up with Audi for a series of projects focusing on electric mobility. The first of these collaborations resulted in the Audi S1 e-tron Quattro Hoonitron electric drift car, which Block took out for a high-speed adventure through the Las Vegas Strip.

Beyond the automotive world, Block was also a skilled entrepreneur, having co-founded successful skate shoe company DC Shoes in 1994.