Lia Block, who is the daughter of Gymkhana and Hoonigan stuntman, Ken Block has announced she’ll race the 1,400bhp Hoonipigasus at Pikes Peak.
Earlier this year, we tragically lost one of the most loved names in all of motorsport and the automotive industry, Ken Block. In honour of his memory, Lia Block, Ken’s daughter has announced that she will race the 1,400bhp Porsche nicknamed ‘Hoonipigasus’ up the most gruelling hill climb in the world.
This was the car that Ken had hoped to take up the Colorado mountain himself but unfortunately he unfortunately passed away at the start of the year due to a snowmobile accident. However, 16 year old Lia will race up the 12.4 miles of tarmac herself – in honour of her father.
Announcing on Instagram, she said that she is “stoked to be going up the mountain in this crazy build” and that whilst it is not a timed run, she will still be completing the full length of the point to point race.
Hoonipigasus
I suppose you’re also interested in what car she’ll be piloting up the hill? Well Lia will take the aptly named ‘Hoonipagasus’, which is a Porsche styled like a 911 that is designed to mimic the Porsche 917/20 ‘Pink Pig’ that raced in the 1971 24 hours of Le Mans. It still keeps the same twin-turbocharged 4.0 litre flat six that’s normally found in the boot, but this one has been moved to where the back seats used to be.
Built by BBi Autosport, the 1,400bhp monster is all wheel drive and weighs a feather under a tonne. Unsurprisingly, it will also top 200mph. Now I mentioned it is styled like a 911, because this actually started life as a 4 banger 912 from 1966. It did, however, take the team a decade to make, with the sole purpose of being propelled up the hill. It was supposed to race last year in 2022 but didn’t due to catastrophic engine failure.
We wish Lia the absolute best of luck with her race, and couldn’t think of a more fitting tribute to her father.