The Motorsports and gaming world mourn the loss of legendary action sports star Ken Block at 55. His Hoonigan Racing Division brand has been featured in many racing video games and his Gymkhana stunt video series on YouTube entertained millions of sports fans over the years.
Ken Block competed and won multiple events in various global Rally series and though he never claimed any championships, was a respected force in the discipline. Block founded skateboarding DC Shoes in 1984, then sold the company to pursue racing dreams. Outside his accolades competing in global Rally Championship events, he and his Hoonigan brand were heavily featured in numerous racing game titles. His likeness and the heavily customized cars under the Hoonigan Racing Division brand have been featured in games like Dirt, Forza Horizon 5, Forza Motorsport 7, Need for Speed (2015), and CSR Racing 2. He also made an appearance in the 2015 Need for Speed game in cutscenes as one of the game's icons.
News of Ken Block's passing was released on January 2 by the Hoonigan Industries' Instagram account stating that a snowmobile accident claimed the life of the company's founder. This is the second reported accident involving a well-known person in a week as Jeremy Renner is currently recovering from injuries sustained in a snow-plowing accident. Block's second life as an action-racing superstar vaulted him even more into the public eye. His Gymkhana videos on YouTube garnered millions of views and companies like Monster Energy, Subaru, Ford, and Audi all supported his racing career.
Before his appearance in the Need for Speed reboot title, Block and Electronic Arts announced a partnership that saw him join the company as a Racing Advisor. Though this lasted through the release of the 2015 game, Block's position at the company may have set the foundation for the new era of Need for Speed games. In Forza Horizon 5, players take control of the Hoonigan Cossie, a customized 1994 Ford Escort Cosworth during the "On A Wing And A Prayer" race with a plane that unlocked a new segment of the game's campaign. Ken Block's latest video game endeavor had him featured in CSR Racing 2 on mobile devices, with a themed event in his name in 2021 as part of a multi-year partnership.
Social media accounts ranging from racing sanctioning bodies like the FIA Rallycross Championship, World Rally Championship, NASCAR, and Indycar, to his sponsors like Monster Energy and video game companies like EA Sports all paid tribute to the racing icon. The loss of such a charismatic figure will be felt in both sports and gaming.
Source: ESPN, Traxion.gg