KEN Block sadly died at the age of 55 near his ranch in Park City, Utah, on January 2, 2023.
Hoonigan Racing Division announced the tragic news of the rally legend's untimely passing. But who was Ken Block and how did he die?
Who was Ken Block?
Ken Block — born in California on November 21, 1967 — was a rally driver with a decade-long professional career, racing in every season between 2005 and 2015.
He was also involved in a number of other extreme sports including skateboarding, snowboarding and motocross.
As well as competing in motorsport, Ken co-founded DC Shoes — a skating fashion brand — in 1994 and co-owned Hoonigan Industries, which makes clothing and apparel for motor enthusiasts.
Ken is best known to British audiences for performing crazy stunts in two episodes of the BBC's long-running motoring programme Top Gear.
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Block also found fame for his series of "gymkhana" videos on YouTube, in which he performed daring stunts in a range of vehicles.
He is survived by his wife Lucy and 16-year-old daughter Lia, who is also a racing driver.
How did Ken Block die?
Block died in a snowmobile accident near his ranch in Park City, Utah, on the afternoon of January 2, 2023.
According to cops, he was riding the snowmobile down a steep slope when the vehicle upended and landed on top of him.
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Although Ken was riding as part of a group, he was alone when the accident happened.
Wasatch County Sheriff's Office confirmed his death in a statement, adding: "We are saddened to hear of the loss of Kenneth and our hearts are with his family and friends so deeply affected.
"We thank all of our first responders for their continued service."
Who did Ken Block race for?
The much-loved driver raced with a few different teams over the course of his celebrated career.
He debuted in 2005 with Vermont SportsCar and raced under a sponsorship deal with Subaru.
Block formed his own racing team, Monster World Rally Team, in 2010 as a platform to compete in the World Rally Championship.
The team rebranded to Hoonigan Racing Division in 2012.
When was Ken Block on Top Gear?
Block appeared in two Top Gear episodes — one in 2009 and one in 2010.
In the first, which was filmed at California's Inyokern Airport, Block zoomed around the airfield alongside James May, aka "Captain Slow", in his Rally American Subaru Impreza.
After drifting around the runway and narrowly avoiding crashing into some parked planes, Block skilfully drifted the car through a pair of hangar doors twice and made doughnuts around a small signpost.
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Next, he took the rally car off-road, showing off his drifting skills alongside dirt biker pal Ricky Carmicheal.
And in the second he was challenged by Jeremy Clarkson to drive a three-wheeled Reliant Robin around the test track — but he rolled it at the first corner, thankfully escaping unharmed.
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