Watch Ken Block's scary Rally America crash from inside the cockpit

Wed, 19 Feb 2014

Ken Block became famous for his series of Gymkhana videos, but he's a real racer in his own right. Block has competed many rounds in the FIA World Rally Championship and also rallied in the 2013 Rally America series. He nearly won that latter title last year – if not for a massive crash in the final event of the season.

Block and his co-driver Alex Gelsomino went into the Lake Superior Performance Rally needing a win to take the championship. However, missing a clump of dirt on the side of the road and one little word in the pace notes was all it took to catapult Block's Fiesta off the road and into a tumbling accident. Block says his initial reaction was anger because the crash came out of nowhere.

For 2014, Block is joining the FIA World Rallycross Championship for at least three rounds. He'll drive a Ford Fiesta for the Hoonigan Racing Division at the Norwegian, French and Turkish events of the 12-round championship. Former Formula One World Champion Jacques Villeneuve will also compete in the series.

Scroll down to watch Block's crash while he and his co-driver narrate. Warning: there is some brief profane language. Below it is the press release about Block joining the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

KEN BLOCK IS LATEST STAR TO JOIN WORLD RX

Hoonigan Racing Division's Ken Block will compete in at least three rounds of this year's FIA World Rallycross Championship

American Gymkhana star 'stoked' about 'racing in three of the World Rallycross Championship rounds for the first time this year'

Latest signing follows on from news that former F1 world champion Jacques Villenueve will compete in this year's World RX

Ken Block is the latest driver to announce he will join the all-new FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy after the American star has confirmed he will compete in a minimum of three rounds in 2014.

Block – who will drive a Ford Fiesta as part of the Hoonigan Racing Division – will begin his World RX campaign in Hell, Norway from 14-15 June, and will also compete in Loheac, France (6-7 September) and Istanbul, Turkey (11-12 October).

This latest news follows on from last week's announcement that former Formula One World Champion Jacques Villeneuve will compete on the World RX grid which boasts a truly international and star-studded line-up.

Martin Anayi, Managing Director of World RX for IMG Motorsport – a division of IMG, the global sport, fashion and media company – welcomed the announcement as another positive story for motorsport's fastest growing championship.

"We're absolutely delighted to have Ken Block and Hoonigan Racing on board for three rounds of this year's FIA World Rallycross Championship," said Anayi. "Block's style epitomises World RX and his huge international following will help lift the profile of our championship to a younger and more digitally-savvy generation. He's a hugely exciting personality to have onboard in 2014 and his spectacular driving style will make for fantastic crowd-pleasing entertainment."

Ken Block added: "I'm stoked with how the new liveries for my Ford Fiestas have turned out, as well as the race schedule we've been able to put together for 2014. Once again I've been fortunate enough to put together a highly diverse schedule that has me going around the world... and, most interestingly, racing in three of the World Rallycross Championship rounds for the first time ever. I'm pretty sure nobody has a better job than me this year!"

By Chris Bruce