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 ofsportsfans 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 likeDirt,Forza Horizon 5,Forza Motorsport 7,Need for Speed (2015), andCSR Racing 2. He also made an appearance in the 2015Need for Speedgame in cutscenes as one of the game’s icons.
RELATED:Legendary Soccer Player Pele Has Died
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 asJeremy 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 theNeed for Speedreboot 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 ofNeed for Speedgames. InForza 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 inCSR Racing 2on mobile devices, with a themed event in his name in 2021 as part of a multi-year partnership.
