On January 2nd, the American off-road star Ken Block (55) died in an accident with his snowmobile. Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton still can’t believe it.
The American off-road pilot and drift artist Ken Block was out and about with his snowmobile in early 2023, just like countless times before on his estate in Utah. But then it happened – Block was climbing a steep hill in the Mill Hollow area of Utah, causing his snowmobile to tip over, burying the rider. The summoned rescue workers could only determine death.
The Californian from Long Beach came to the sport through US motocross legend Travis Pastrana, became one of the best rally and rallycross pilots in the USA and even competed in the 2011 World Rally Championship. However, Block became famous worldwide thanks to his steering wheel skills as a skillful driver. Videos of his drifts have been viewed 250 million times on YouTube, and the images of him whizzing through closed-off sections of San Francisco, past some of the city’s most famous spots, went viral.
It was at such a show event that Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton met the American. The producers of the program of the same name organized the “Top Gear Festival” in Barbados in 2014 and invited them to an unusual duel – Lewis in a 2012 Silver Arrow (then with an 800 hp V8 naturally aspirated engine), Block in a 600 hp rallycross Ford Fiesta, a drift Duel of exceptional talent.
Of course, Hamilton hardly brought the power of the Grand Prix racing car to the track on the narrow, dusty circuit. But the way Hamilton shot around the corners was also great for Ken Block.
Hamilton admired the American’s driving style, and Block had been a fan of the Formula 1 driver for years. They got along great right away.
The 103-time GP winner Hamilton is all the more stunned after the sad news from America. The Englishman addressed his fans like this:
“I found out about the loss of a dear friend. I’m devastated that Ken Block passed away. He was such a wonderful person and drew everything life had to offer.”
“I will never forget our first meeting, his positivity, his incredible talent at the wheel. We skied together and snowboarded in Canada. The respect for each other was enormous.”
“People will miss Ken Block. My thoughts are with his family. He left too early. Rest in peace, Ken.”