Ken Block, the professional rally driver and self-styled 'Hoonigan', has released his first Electrikhana video, filmed using an electric vehicle on closed roads in the heart of Las Vegas, Nevada. It's a debut for Block's new car, the Audi S1 Hoonitron, which uses two electric motors to decimate its tyres.
The car is the star
Although Block is unquestionably a huge global celebrity, the show's star is the new car, the first in his new partnership with Audi. For many years, Block's world-famous Gymkhana videos have starred various go-faster Fords, from the classic Mustang to the modern Focus RS, but now the American driver has teamed up with Audi.
The new S1 Hoonitron was revealed at the tail end of 2021, offering "power galore" from its two electric motors. With all-wheel drive, a carbon-fibre construction and styling based on the Audi Sport Quattro S1 that competed at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, it's a full rally-spec car that even meets safety standards prescribed by motorsport's governing body, the FIA.
And with the advent of a new electric ride, the name of Block's videos has also changed slightly. Where once there were Gymkhana films, there's now Electrikhana.
Viva Las Vegas
Block spent some time helping Audi Sport develop the car in Germany last year, and now the car is being unleashed in an environment that's only semi-controlled. Shot on closed roads in Las Vegas, the new Electrikhana sees the S1 Hoonitron sliding its way out of the Paris Las Vegas hotel's parking lot before tearing down the fabled Strip in a cloud of tyre smoke.
As well as carrying out all the usual stunts against the backdrop of Las Vegas at night, the S1 encounters some of its predecessors along the way. The Audi Sport quattro S1 Pikes Peak (1987) makes an appearance, as does the Audi quattro Gruppe B A2 from 1984, and the Audi R8 LMP and Audi R18 e-tron quattro Le Mans cars. There's even a cameo appearance from racer Tom Kristensen, a record nine-time winner of the Le Mans 24-hour race.
"With the S1 Hoonitron we broke entirely new ground at Audi," said Oliver Hoffmann, member of the Board for Technical Development at Audi AG. "Developing a fully electric prototype for the unique requirements of our partner Ken Block was a big and exciting challenge to which the whole team rose with flying colors. It is great to see how 'Vorsprung durch Technik' is presented in an all-new environment.