Ken Block back in a Subaru for 2021 rally season

Hoonigan Racing Division and Ken Block have announced the return of the international Rally Star to a Subaru WRX STI for the first time since 2009.

The #43 entry of Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino will compete in a Subaru rally car for six of the seven remaining rounds of the 2021 American Rally Association season, alongside the Subaru Motorsports U.S.A team vehicles of Travis Pastrana/Rhianon Gelsomino and Brandon Semenuk/John Hall. The duo will debut their new car at the DirtFish Olympus Rally from 24 April 2021.

The connection between Subaru and Ken Block dates back to 2005, when the DC Shoes co-founder made his rally debut at Sno Drift Rally in an Impreza WRX STI.  Block finished his first competitive rally season fourth overall and was named 2005 SCCA ProRally Rookie of the Year.

He would remain a fixture of Subaru Rally Team U.S.A and teammate of Pastrana through 2009, racking up ten U.S. rally wins, a pair of X Games medals and a trio of top-three finishes in the Rally America driver's championship. This period also brought Block's World Rally Championship debut in 2007, contesting the Mexico and New Zealand rounds in a Group N STI.

Following the Olympus Rally, the ARA championship will be on hiatus until Southern Ohio Forest Rally in June. Ken Block will compete at all remaining rounds, with the exception of Oregon Trail Rally due to a scheduling conflict.