A superhero's return to the WRC

The child stared at the man who had just written on his T-shirt. Then stared back at his T-shirt. Then started to cry. Good crying. The kind of crying that comes from meeting the man who's looked down from your bedroom wall for as long as you can remember.

For millions, Ken Block is that man. And last week in Barcelona, bedroom walls were coming to life right around Montjuic Park.

World Rally Championship regulars Sebastien Ogier and Thierry Neuville were a novelty; local hero Dani Sordo a must for most, but when Block came out of the building, bound for the autograph session, Barca went berserk. The intensity was intimidating to watch, to be in the middle of it must have been mental.

"It's getting a bit difficult to get around in Europe at some of the events," says Block, safely back in M-Sport's service park later that evening.

That's what internet viewing figures well into the hundreds of millions does for you. KB's not about to complain. In fact, all he does complain about is the lack of time to keep on signing autographs and spoiling T-shirts (including a signed pic for Mrs Ogier, no less!).

The fans are a massive part of what Block does. Without them and their adoration, it'll be time for him to wake from the dream he's living right now.

Worldwide recognition means chatting with David Beckham, Sandra Bullock, Joey from Friends - he's a name in downtown Hollywood. But none of that matters to KB. This is what matters.

I'm standing near the end of Colldejou, first time through on Saturday. Before me and what feels like half of Spain lies a long left hander, medium speed. You hear the noise of the crowd well before you hear the engine noise.

"Kiiiiiiiiiin!"

Block's style is a thrill for the fans © XPB

Everybody inches forward, close as we dare.

Bang. Bang. He's shed two gears from top to fourth as he readies the car for the apex. As the curve tightens slightly, Block pops third which retards the Ford Fiesta RS WRC a little more and then he's back on the power, exiting the corner with the rear of the car sliding.

Mental. The place went mental.

For the record, Ogier's Volkswagen came through on rails. Left-front hooked inside, fourth gear all the way through... patience, patience, patience, exit in sight, open the taps. Perfect line. Perfect speed. Perfect execution.

The crowd showed its appreciation to a worthy would-be world champion. But it was a slap on the back kind of a cheer, not the manic, pick him up and hug him kind of appreciation Block achieved coming through the corner slower.

Not having seen Ken in the World Rally Championship for 18 months, it was great to see the magic's still there for the Monster man. The character and the charisma remain in what appears to be an ageless hero.

How old is Block? Don't know. Nobody cares. It's the man, the name that people sign up to, regardless of whether he's in his twenties or forties, although the salt-speckled beard indicates the latter is more likely. And it's the same deal with his pace in a World Rally Car. That he ended the event 13 minutes off Ogier mattered not a jot to these folk. He was the most sideways, the most fun and, by far, the most in demand.

The Rally of Spain was actually Block's downtime. His way of relaxing. Monster and Ford's focus on rallycross means much of his time is spent going around in circles these days, but he remains a rally driver at heart.

"Stage rallying is where it all started," he says, "and it remains the basis of what I do. I have a lot of rallycross commitments this year, but I'm still trying to force more rallies into the schedule. I did two days of testing for Spain, one on asphalt and one on gravel. In those two days, I did more miles than I have done all year in rallycross. I love it. I love being in the car."

There's a real energy about Block and the whole of the Hoonigan Racing Division. And a real sense of satisfaction in what they do. In rallycross, results are the driver: KB's won races and wants - and will - win more. He might still win this year's Global Rallycross title. And with that particular series title sponsored by Red Bull, a Monster victory would be sweet.

The American returned to the WRC in Spain after a long absence © XPB

Rallying is a bonus now.

"I'm a rally tourist these days," he smiles. Tourist might be stretching it a little bit. Absence from the world championship might have dulled his ultimate pace behind the wheel of the Fiesta RS WRC, but his 100 Acre Wood win at the top of the season shows he's still got the pace to win at a national level.

Were his sponsors to switch the focus of their efforts firmly onto the WRC, Block would be in dreamland. And, given a couple of seasons, he'd be quick enough to trouble the frontrunners.

But for now, it's about enjoying himself and making some mighty fine movies.

Nothing offers the same kind of buzz as clipping a bank in sixth gear and knowing you've nicked a tenth on the opposition by being braver, but Block started life marketing DC shoes. Good in a car, he's on another planet when it comes to creating an image and building a brand.

When conversation moved onto the next Gymkhana film (due out... sometime soon), Block can hardly contain himself. He's like an expectant father, with child number seven well on the way. And he's been forbidden from telling anybody the name. Some more moody corners of the internet have spoiled his secret and told the world, the new one's called Mustang. And it'll be born in downtown LA.

There are some who don't really get the whole Hoonigan thing. They see what they consider to be a brash American, who's only good on the happy stick. They're wrong.

I've been lucky enough to sit alongside Block and, believe me, he's good. Yes, it's only doughnuts and skids, but have you tried tickling 600bhp within an inch of a concrete block at 45mph? Thought not. Gymkhana's a skill. No, it's not rallying, not in its purest form, not in any form really. But you can bet my boy and I will be glued when Gym seven finally hits our small screens.

KB's a phenomenon. He's the down-to-earth superhero; the slayer of a thousand tyres and a fantastic family man.

Let's just hope it's not another 18 months before we see him back in the WRC.