Update: It was recently announced that the World Rally Championship will retire #43 for the 2023 racing season in respect to Ken Block, one of the most prominent drivers ever to compete in the WRC. Block had raced in the series for over two decades, recording multiple event victories and dozens of individual stage wins along the way.
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The gearhead community is reeling with the news that one of the biggest names in professional motorsports, Ken Block, has died tragically in a snowmobile accident.
Word quickly spread via social media that Block passed with this official statement from Hoonigan:
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.
Please respect the family’s privacy at this time while they grieve
A crossover celebrity athlete who excelled at motocross, skateboarding, and other high-profile sports, Ken Block soon found a home in the cockpit of a rally car, ultimately developing the popular Hoonigan brand and showcasing his driving skill in the legendary Gymkhana video series.
Block was 55 years old.
Not a way to start 2023 off but I was nice to see him in action
Pushing the envelope is what he loved. He will be missed
I have had such a hard time putting into words the way I feel about this. I have never felt as sad about a celebrity/icon passing. Seeing informationof his death yesterday, didnt even feel real, and honestlytooky breath away, it felt just like the day my grandpa passed away, and i never even met ken. I have grown up watching ken and all the amazing things he’s done in motorsports, it hurts alot, even though I never had the opportunity to meet him, I can truly say, he is the reason I am into cars at all, I will never forget having gymkhana 4 shown to me by one of my cousins at age 9, after that, the rest is history, I’ve watched almost every Gymkhana, Climbkhana, hoonigian video, his own YouTube channel, and some oth the documentarys he’s been apart of. I loved having the opportunity to see so many cool cars he has driven and helped design durign the two years i have been to Sema, its amazing the impact he has had on the motorsports community. As a fan, it hurts alot to loose someone like ken, but I can’t even imagine how his family and close friends feel during this time of loss. We really have lost someone special. Rest easy Ken
“Go fast, risk everything “-43