Ken Block

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Block's rally career began in 2005 with the Vermont SportsCar team, driving a 2005 Subaru WRX STi. His first event was Sno*Drift, where he finished seventh overall and fifth in Group N. That season, he had five top five finishes, placed third overall in Group A, fourth overall in the Rally America National Championship, and won the Rally America Rookie of the Year award. In 2006, Block and Travis Pastrana signed a sponsorship deal with Subaru, becoming "Subaru Rally Team USA." Block competed in the first-ever X Games rally event at X Games XII, finishing third for the bronze. He finished second overall in the 2006 Rally America National Championship. In 2007, Block placed second at X Games XIII for a silver medal and finished third overall in the 2007 Rally America National Championship. He also entered rounds of the World Rally Championship in Rally Mexico and Rally New Zealand, recording two top-five stage times in Group N in New Zealand. By the end of 2007, Block had achieved 19 podiums and 8 overall victories in rally events. In 2008, Block won the Rallye Baie-des Chaleurs in the Canadian Rally Championship, his first Canadian rally win, and finished first at Rally New York USA. At X Games XIV, he finished third in Rally Car Racing, while Dave Mirra finished fourth. He finished second overall in the 2008 Rally America National Championship, with a strong victory at the Lake Superior Performance Rally. In 2010, Block ended his partnership with Subaru and joined Ford to compete part-time in the World Rally Championship for the Monster World Rally Team, driving a Ford Focus RS WRC 08. He campaigned in the World Rally Championship, scoring two points after finishing ninth in Spain. He also won the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood for the 5th consecutive time, tying John Buffum's record of five overall wins. In 2011, Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino rolled their Ford Fiesta RS WRC during the shakedown stage of the Rally de Portugal but were both fine. He finished eighth at France and ninth at Wales, scoring 6 points. In 2013, Block scored a best-ever seventh overall finish at the Mexican rally. In 2014, Castrol returned as his sponsor; he finished 12th in Catalunya, Spain, after a tire puncture on the last stage.

In Their Own Story

Block's rallycross career included competing at the Global RallyCross Championship from 2011 to 2015, finishing runner-up in 2014, third in 2013, and fifth in 2012, collecting six wins and 15 podiums. He returned full-time for the 2018 Americas Rallycross Championship, claiming two podiums and ranking fourth in points. In European rallycross, Block was third in the Norway round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2014 and won the Norway round of the European Rallycross Championship. For the 2016 season, he competed full-time in the World Rallycross Championship, finishing third at Hockenheimring, Germany, for his second podium in the series. In 2017, he finished ninth in points, with a best finish of seventh at Britain and France. Block produced a series of gymkhana videos that drew millions of views on YouTube. In 2009, for the BBC show Top Gear, Block took James May out for Gymkhana-style driving at his stunt course at Inyokern Airport. In 2010, he took a Reliant Robin for a lap of the Top Gear test track, rolling the car but remaining unhurt. On August 24, 2010, Block released the first of a three-part Gymkhana 3 video release featuring his new Ford Fiesta. On September 14, 2010, his third Gymkhana video was released on YouTube. On August 16, 2011, the fourth Gymkhana video, The Hollywood Megamercial, was released, featuring Block driving around the Universal Studios backlot. On July 9, 2012, Block released his fifth Gymkhana video on YouTube, featuring Block driving his Ford Fiesta in San Francisco and Travis Pastrana on a dirtbike. After 24 hours, the video was viewed 5.1 million times, making it the top-viewed video of the previous week. In 2024, Hoonigan released a video compilation containing all of Block's Gymkhana videos and spinoff videos, apart from the two he did with Top Gear and the BBC. His daughters, Lia Block, Kira Block, and his son Mika Block are all also racing drivers.

Reader's Guide

Ken Block was a real-world icon before entering the Forza universe as a celebrated personality. Known for his Gymkhana videos, he revolutionized how stunt driving and rallying are perceived globally. Within the games, his presence is felt through exclusive liveries and challenge events that prioritize style over pure lap time. His signature driving style involves aggressive oversteer, utilizing drift techniques to navigate tight urban or off-road obstacles with precision. Fans often compete in Hoonigan-themed rallies where maintaining momentum while sliding is key to success. His career highlights include numerous appearances across Motorsport and Horizon titles, cementing his legacy among virtual racers. While he had no direct on-screen rivalries within the narrative, his competitive spirit inspired countless players to push their own limits. The Forza community continues to rally behind his memory through tribute collections that keep his automotive spirit alive on every continent featured in the open worlds.

Did You Know?

• Block was one of the co-founders of DC Shoes.
• He won the Rally America Rookie of the Year award in 2005, his first rallying year.
• In 2010, Block was among the American drivers to campaign in the World Rally Championship, following earlier competitors like John Buffum.
• Block tied John Buffum's record by winning the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood for the fifth time in 2010.