The jump was specially set up for the Discovery Channel’s ‘Stunt Junkies’ program.
Block's high flying antics were attempted using a motocross style dirt jump with a huge gap and landing ramp.
"I wanted to take a street legal competition rally car and treat it like a motocross bike, attempting to jump as far as possible without destroying the car or hurting myself. I wanted to just drive away," Block said. "My final attempt at the jump was much higher and farther than I ever imagined!"
Block's vision led to the construction of a huge dirt-to-dirt jump, built over the course of several days at the Lake Elsinore Motocross park in Southern California. The jump was filmed by dozens of cameras both in the car and on the ground by the 'Stunt Junkies' crew.
As a professional rally driver competing for Subaru Rally Team USA, Block naturally wanted to use one of his competition rally cars for the jump. A Vermont SportsCar prepared 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STI rally car was transported to Southern California for the stunt.
Block added sandbags in the boot of the car as ballast to balance the weight of the engine. The car survived the jump with one broken suspension arm and a cracked windscreen.
The former motocross rider’s jump is an official record as it was measured, but unofficial estimates suggest Markko Martin jumped his Ford Focus RS WRC 57 metres on the Ouninpojha stage on the 2003 Rally Finland.
Ken Block's personal website, www.ken-block.com features an image gallery from the stunt as well as a video clip.
You can also watch footage of the jump HERE
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