BARCELONA, SPAIN, MARCH 28, 2017 — With the World RX race season opener this coming weekend in Barcelona, Spain, Hoonigan Racing debuts its newest liveries for the team of Ken Block and Andreas Bakkerud and their Ford Performance Focus RS RX rallycross cars, designed in collaboration with U.K. artist David Gwyther—who is better known as Death Spray Custom and known for his multi-disciplined art work—Block and Bakkerud’s new liveries harness the look of intense energy (via bolts) while combining a 3D element to the pattern.
In addition to the livery development work, Death Spray Custom also created all-new name and number lockups for both drivers, as well as new takes on established and well-known Hoonigan sayings “Kill All Tires,” and “Ain’t Care,” in addition to an all-new Hoonigan logo for placement on the cars.
“Every year, we here at Hoonigan Racing and Hoonigan Industries try and make the best racecar liveries in the world of motorsports,” said Block. “We’ve been able to keep it moving forward with what we do and we’re always trying to align our liveries with amazing graphics and artists so that it translates in a dope way to become a visually appealing and unique looking racecar on the track—and therefore will make fresh apparel with Hoonigan, and other awesome products with our other partners."
Block continued, "I’ve been a fan of David’s [Death Spray Custom] work for some time and I’m stoked that we were able to work together on this year’s livery. It’s great to have him be a part of our collective history as a race team.”
“I misspent my youth by being crammed in the back of an early Ford Escort, chasing rally stages all over the UK,” said Death Spray Custom. “In 2017 it seemed fitting to misspend my time with Ken Block and the Hoonigan team.”
To see the new liveries—and both Block and Bakkerud—in action, be sure to tune in to Round 1 of the 2017 World RX championship season, taking place this coming weekend, April 2nd, in Barcelona, Spain. Streaming exclusively on Ford Performance Facebook (www.facebook.com/FordPerformance/) for US-based fans and on www.fiaworldrallycross.com/live for the rest of the world.
For those who enjoy the new 2017 livery, select partners of Block will be offering gear and apparel that incorporates the designs (Hoonigan, Wolfgang Man and Beast, etc.) very soon.
About Ken Block: Ken Blockʼs rally career began in 2005. His skill and car control became quickly apparent and Block aptly nabbed Rookie of the Year that season in the Rally America Championship. Since then, Block has continued to race in the series, racking up numerous overall wins as well as plenty of podium appearances. He’s also accumulated five X Games medals since the start of his career, including most recently taking silver at Global X Games Barcelona RallyCross in 2013. In addition to his performance in the car, Block has been a driving force in shedding light on the sport of rally within the United States. His keen branding and marketing acumen, combined with his talents and skills behind the wheel, has also allowed Block to achieve global fame as a rally driver through his wildly successful viral Gymkhana series of videos. With all nine of his Gymkhana videos (plus all associated edits) clocking in at over 400 million views on the franchise in total, they have helped put Block in front of eyeballs around the world. The franchise has also racked up several awards, including making the top 10 viral video charts by Ad Age, as well as the One Show Interactive Gold Pencil Award in the category of Online Films & Video/Long Form – Single, for excellence in an advertising campaign. In January 2010, Block formed the Monster World Rally Team and signed with Ford to pursue his dreams of racing in the World Rally Championship and in doing so, became one of only four Americans to ever score points in the WRC (more Americans have actually landed on the moon than scored points in the WRC). Additionally, his signing with Ford included campaigning domestically in racing (Global RallyCross Championship, X Games and Rally America), as well as continuing with his Gymkhana driving. In 2012, Block re-named his team Hoonigan Racing Division, with the goal to further push the boundaries of motorsports marketing. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, Block dedicated himself to competing in the Global Rallycross Championship, finishing second overall in 2015. 2016 saw Block move to racing full-time in the FIA World Rallycross Championship. He will contest the full 2017 Championship calendar this year, as well as compete at the Gymkhana GRID final this fall and create multiple video projects as well.
About Andreas Bakkerud: Bakkerud competed in karting from the age of eight until 15 when he swapped to rallycross. He took second in the Norwegian Championship in 2009 and third place in the Super1600 European Championship in 2010. He won the FIA European Championship in Super1600 in both 2011 and 2012. Bakkerud then moved into the Supercar category in 2013, finishing fourth in the championship after event wins in Sweden and France. In 2014 he won two events and played a pivotal role in helping his team win the FIA Teams’ Championship title. In 2015 he took a win at World RX of Italy, finishing the season 4th overall in the championship. 2016 saw Andreas Bakkerud join Block as Hoonigan Racing Division's second driver in an all-new Ford Focus RS RX rallycross car and he finished the season 3rd overall in the championship. For 2017 Bakkerud returns a Block’s Hoonigan Racing Division teammate.
About Hoonigan Racing Division: Created and assembled by Ken Block, the object of the Hoonigan Racing Division is to continue to redefine the race-team archetype. The two-car team is helmed by Block himself and features Andreas Bakkerud as a second driver, both of whom are racing the Ford Focus RS RX rallycross car in FIA World RX. The team is driven not only to win, but to also market motorsports through innovative, creative and interactive ways. The team is supported by Monster Energy, Ford Motor Company, Hoonigan, Toyo Tires, Pennzoil, Can-Am, Sonax, GoPro, ST Suspensions, HPI Racing, fifteen52 and Alpinestars.
