Hoonigan’s popular ‘Hoonicorn Vs. The World’ video series, in which the 1400 bhp twin-turbo ‘Hoonicorn’ Mustang is pitted against the world’s fastest vehicles in a series of drag races, is back – but this time with a twist.
Instead of Ken Block getting behind the wheel of the methanol-fed beast, his 14-year-old daughter Lia will be on driving duty in the Forza Horizon-inspired series.
“I’ve been around my dad’s race cars for as long as I can remember obviously, and I have always wanted to know what it’s like to drive one,” said the youngster. “I learned how to do donuts in his ’78 Ford Escort Mk2 in a parking lot last year, but the Hoonicorn is a pretty big step up from that!
“Since then, I have been doing a ton of kart racing, raced my first rally race, podium’d in the Nitro Rallycross race in a Sierra Car, and training with awesome drivers like NHRA Top Fuel dragster driver Leah Pruett to help me get ready for the craziest car my dad has ever driven: the Hoonicorn. It was such a crazy experience. I absolutely love driving that car!”
The driver isn’t the only thing that’s different this time around either, with the Hoonicorn itself also undergoing several changes.
Safety has been a key focus of the upgrades, with a reinforced roll cage featuring intrusion panels on the doors being fitted. There’s also a full halo seat to protect the driver in the event of an impact, while a new paddle shift gear change system ensures the driver can keep two hands on the steering wheel at all times.
Visually the car now has a new livery, inspired by the original 2014 Hoonicorn look from long-time Block and Hoonigan collaborator Death Spray Custom. The car also now sits on a set of American Racing VF503 wheels that feature new tire bead gripping technology.
Since the end of his deal with Ford at the beginning of this year, Ken Block has been offloading a number of his vehicles that he used during the decade-long relationship. Despite fan speculation though, the Hoonicorn remained in Block’s possession, although he admitted he had no intention of running the car publicly himself again.
“With the excitement from the fans on Hoonicorn Vs. The World season one, we knew it had to come back,” Block said. “I hadn’t planned to race the Hoonicorn again since my contract with Ford expired at the end of 2020, but at the same time Lia was taking a very serious interest in racing – so, the stars just aligned to make this opportunity happen.
“So, we got to keep a Block in the Hoonicorn, just a different Block!
“Seeing Lia’s natural talent and progress behind the wheel has been a surreal experience for me,” he said of his daughter, who made her stage rally debut earlier this month. “To say this is a proud dad moment would be a major understatement!
“The Hoonicorn is one of the wildest and gnarliest cars I’ve ever driven, and I would never have put my young, teenage daughter behind the wheel if I didn’t have the confidence that she could handle it. And, she handled it like a champ!
“After watching her bruise some egos whilst shooting season two of Hoonicorn Vs. The World, I couldn’t be more stoked with her level of talent and car control – at a mere 14 years old!”
The first episode of the new series, launching on Hoonigan’s YouTube channel on Monday, will feature Lia and the Hoonicorn facing off against Alex Laughlin’s 4000 horsepower Pro Stock Chevrolet Corvette drag racer in a best of three contest.
Other cars opponents confirmed for the series include one of the world’s fastest modified R35 Nissan GT-Rs and a Tesla Model S Plaid.
The first season of Hoonicorn Vs. The World was watched by 47 million people and featured opponents such as the McLaren Senna, Ford GT, Ferrari F8 Tributo, Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, and Bryce Menzies’ Ford Raptor trophy truck.
