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A year since the historic run which was an emotional tribute to the late Ken Block, we reflect upon how his daughter Lia conquered the infamous Pikes Peak
by Amrit Balraj on July 2, 2024, 12:00The late stunt and race car driver, Ken Block inspired millions of racing enthusiasts, none more so than his daughter Lia. His family and brand Hoonigan are working hard to carry on his legacy exactly how he would have wanted. Back in May 2022, Ken unveiled yet another ridiculously powerful project car, which he intended to take to the 100th running of Pikes Peak. Built in collaboration with BBI Autosport (who have been immensely successful at Pikes Peak), the Hoonipigasus is a classic mid-engine Porsche 911-based track car that produces1,400 horsepower and features a custom driveshaft and AWD. The team’s first time taking the car to Pikes Peak was plagued by mechanical issues which forced them to pull out of the event, However, they did not give up and wanted to come back with Ken the next year.
Unfortunately, Ken’s tragic and untimely death in January 2023 meant that he never got to see the completion of his dream. This dream was especially meaningful to Ken and his family since watching Pikes Peaks events throughout his childhood is what got Ken interested in racing and motorsports in the first place. It was kind of like his origin story, so it came as no surprise that Lia was asked if she wanted to conquer the hill, and conquer she did.
The Hoonipigasus Is A Spectacular Feat Of Engineering
The Hoonigan team is known for pulling out all the stops when it comes to their special project builds and the Hoonipigasus is no exception, the race car packs a 4.0-liter engine derived from a 2016 Porsche GT3 R Racecar used by the Porsche Factory Racing team.
The team rebuilt the engine so it made more boost and collaborated with Garret Motorsports who provided the largest twin turbos ever produced by them. From the onset, the goal was to build the ultimate Pikes Peak 911. The entire project incredibly just took four months to complete from design to finish, which just goes to show how passionate and motivated the team was.
Extensive List Of Mods On The Hoonipigasus
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Mechanically locking front and rear differentials
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Custom Rotiform lightweight wheels engineered exclusively for the Hoonipigasus.
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Custom chassis and roll cage fabricated by Scarbo Performance from over 300 feet of Chromoly (Alloy of chromium, molybdenum, iron, carbon, and other alloys) tubing
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The body kit is composed of extreme aero and carbon fiber, designed by Scarbo and manufactured in Sweden. The silhouette was designed to be vintage and generate the maximum downforce through strategically placed air canards and diffusers.
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It incorporates a cutting-edge GPS-linked suspension system. It utilizes data from previous races to dynamically adjust the ride height, maximizing handling throughout the course.
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Gear changes will be lightning-fast thanks to a high-performance Sadev sequential racing gearbox.
The pink livery was exclusively designed by renowned artist GucciGhost, A.K.A. Trevor Andrews, as a visual tribute to the 1971 Porsche 917/20 ‘Pink Pig’ racecar. The artist is a former professional snowboarder and avid skateboarder turned artist, whose style and aesthetic was particularly appealing to Ken Block.
| The Hoonipigasus | |
|---|---|
| Engine | Twin turbocharged 4.0-Liter Flat-6 |
| Horsepower | 1400 horsepower |
| Torque | 1000 Foot-Pounds |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Sequential Gearbox |
| Drivetrain | AWD |
| 0-60 MPH | 1.8 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 225 MPH |
| Weight | 2204 lbs |
| Fuel | Methanol |
Lia Block Embracing The Hoonipigasus
A few days before the race Lia got a chance to get behind the wheel of the Hoonipigauss for the first time at a test track, and it was a highly emotional moment for her, her family, and the entire Hoonigan team. At just 16 years of age, Lia was already a disciple of all manner of motorsports and knew how to handle super-fast machines, however, the Hoonipigasus was not a beginner car. The footage of her crushing it around the track should remind you that racing is in her blood, and she completes four laps in style.
Hoonigan has produced and released a documentary about Lia’s journey to Pikes Peak and it’s an emotional tribute to Ken Block as well as a testament to her driving skills. The documentary also shows us unseen footage of Ken Block shortly before his passing, and it pulls at the viewer’s emotional chords, especially when it transitions to footage from the event day.
It is reminiscent of Ken Block’s 2017 Climbkhana video, which was also done in a 1400 horsepower 1965 Ford Mustang. The day of the ascent goes by without a hiccup with Lia pushing the Hoonipigasus to its limits to conquer the hill that rises to 14,110 feet. Although untimed, she completed the run in just under 15 minutes and 40 seconds. In the end, the Hoonigan team and her mother Lucy Block were left crying tears of pride and joy.
This was unfinished business and Lia was able to complete what her father started. Just over a year since the day of that run and we still remember what Lia was able to accomplish. The Block family has since also established 43 Institute, which aims to carry on Ken’s legacy and provide opportunities and open doors to the extremely talented in a variety of fields. Today, Lia Block is currently competing at F1 Academy for the ART Grand Prix team. The Hoonipigasus meanwhile has achieved a sort of cult status and was recently seen at the X-Games Hoonigan booth.
Amrit Balraj
When not reading up or watching videos about obscure and rare automobiles, Amrit spends his free time planning imaginary road trips on some of the best driving roads in the world, preferably in an old truck with a motorcycle strapped to the bed. Read full bio
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