Driver and YouTube star Ken Block dies in snowmobile accident – Reuters. com

Jan 3 (Reuters) — The world of motorsport paid tribute to American Ken Block, the professional rally driver whose daring stunts made him an internet sensation, after his death aged 55 in a snowmobile accident.

Block’s Hoonigan Racing team confirmed his death in a statement on Instagram on Monday.

“Ken was a visionary, the pioneer and an icon. And most importantly, a father plus husband. He will be incredibly missed, ” it said.

The accident occurred in Utah’s Wasatch County and the Sheriff’s Office said that Block was riding on a steep slope when the yamaha upended and landed on top of him.

“He was pronounced deceased at the scene from injuries sustained in the particular accident, ” it said, adding that he was riding within a group but was alone when the accident happened.

Having begun his rallying career in 2005, Prevent was named Rookie of the Year in the particular Rally America Championship. This individual competed within the World Rally Championship and won several rallycross medals at the X Games.

The particular American co-founded sportswear company DC Shoes and produced the Gymkhana video series, which featured him driving on dangerous tracks plus obstacle courses. The collection racked up millions associated with views on YouTube.

He or she also showcased on the BBC programme Top Gear, including the sequence drifting and performing tyre burnouts around London with actor Matt LeBlanc.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, a former rally car owner and president of the particular International Automobile Federation (FIA), said upon Twitter that will Block has been “an inspiration for us all and a true gentleman of our sport. ”

Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula One world champion, said he was in shock.

“Such a talent that did so much for our sports activity. He was obviously a true visionary with their own unique style & infectious smile. Our sport lost one of the best today but more importantly a great man, inch he stated on Twitter.

Nine-times globe rally champ Sebastien Loeb, currently competing on the Dakar Rally within Saudi Arabia, posted a photograph with the words “RIP Legend”.

Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, Alan Baldwin in Greater london; Editing simply by Peter Rutherford and Andrew Cawthorne

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