A sudden death occurred on January 2, 2023, for Ken Block. The racing community held him in high regard. The loss of Block, who impacted the automotive industry, continues to sadden many. Audi’s latest Gymkhana car, the Audi S1 Hoonitron, was displayed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. In honour of Block’s remarkable life and career, Audi suffused the world-famous hillclimb in tire smoke. It was well knowledge that Block was the only person who could safely operate a vehicle through dense plumes of smoke. To show their respect for Block, Audi dispatched Tom Kristensen, a nine-time winner of the Le Mans race. Kristensen did a few donuts in front of the spectators in the Audi R10 TDI and R18 e-tron Quattro LMP1, which he had previously won at Le Mans, to demonstrate his skill behind the wheel of a high-performance Audi. In 2022, Block and Audi collaborated on the Audi S1 Hoonitron, his most recent Gymkhana vehicle. The Audi Sport Quattro S1 was his favourite rally car. Thus, this first electric Gymkhana car was a tribute to it. Its electric motors are on its sides, making it a fully electric vehicle. They can generate a combined 670 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The S1’s quick torque delivery shows promise as a drift weapon, as Block demonstrated in the film Electrikhana. Block had witnessed the Goodwood hill-climbs tire-smoking spectacles before. His F-150 Hoonitruck, Ford Fiesta rally car, Ford RS200, and Hoonicorn Mustang have all made appearances at Goodwood over the years, and each time, he has been the main attraction. This tribute allows us to reflect on the incredible contributions that Ken Block made to the motorsports industry, even if his life was more significant than his work, and the world is still mourning his loss.
