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Article By John Redfern

Stunt driver Ken Block to boost Audi’s electric car image

The famed rallycross driver and YouTube star will work with Audi on new electric mobility projects.

Ken Block has signed a deal with Audi to work on a range of electrification projects.

Best known for his Gymkhana series of videos, the 53-year-old American is an established rally driver and rallycross competitor.

This year saw Block conclude his eleven-year partnership with Ford Performance. Now his attention has turned to Audi and its range of electric cars.

Be like Ken Block with an Audi EV

During a visit to Audi’s North American headquarters, Block had the opportunity to test out classic and modern performance vehicles.

These included the futuristic Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo, created as a real-world concept for the Gran Turismo series of video games.

However, it was the new electric Audi road car that grabbed Block’s attention. “The Audi RS e-tron GT really surprised me”, said the X Games medallist.

“The design is exquisite, with great attention to detail and a perfect finish. The driving experience is amazing: the car is incredibly fast and handles very well. The centre of gravity is very low, so you can change direction quickly.”

Despite building a reputation for being a serious petrolhead, Block is willing to admit that “electric mobility is the future”.

He explains: “I see the electric car as a leap forward for us as a society in order to create something that can not only reduce emissions and hopefully make the planet a better place. But not only that, it’s also about performance.”

“I love anything that makes me go faster. Electric cars can do that. And as far as sound goes, I have kids who don’t care about that. They think that the sound of electric cars is just as cool as the sound of internal combustion engines.”

Although Block and Audi are keeping quiet on specific plans, it is likely to involve plenty of tyre-shredding action.

Julius Seebach, managing director of Audi Sport, commented: “Electrification is a game changer, just like Quattro drive once was. With Ken Block, we’ve got exciting things in store that go perfectly with our strategy.”

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