Kira Block

Kira Block is the self-described “most diverse Block”—the middle child of the legendary racing family who’s equally likely to be found sideways in a rallycross car or soaring over jumps on horseback, chasing an Olympic dream while her sister conquers F1 Academy.

EARLY YEARS

Born in Rancho Santa Fe, California, Kira Block grew up in a household where horsepower was a second language. As the daughter of rally icon Ken Block and his wife Lucy—herself a competitive racer—Kira’s childhood was steeped in motorsports culture. The family eventually relocated to Park City, Utah, where they established their racing headquarters at Block House Racing.

Unlike her older sister Lia, who dove into racing early and intensely, Kira took a more measured approach to the sport. She didn’t climb into a kart until she was 12 years old, starting her racing journey later than many of her peers. But in true Block family fashion, when she decided to race, she committed fully. By 16 years old (as of 2025), Kira had already proven she could hold her own in the competitive world of motorsports, even as she split her attention between the track and the stable.

The Block family faced unimaginable tragedy on January 2, 2023, when Ken Block died in a snowmobile accident at age 55. The loss of their father and husband could have derailed the family’s racing ambitions entirely. Instead, it galvanized them. Led by matriarch Lucy Block, the family continued competing—not just in Ken’s memory, but because racing was woven into the fabric of who they were.

OTHER INTERESTS

Here’s where Kira diverges most dramatically from the typical racing narrative: she’s just as serious about horses as she is about horsepower. While her sister Lia has laser-focused on an open-wheel racing career, Kira splits her passion between motorsports and equestrian pursuits, specifically show jumping. It’s not a casual hobby—Kira has Olympic aspirations in horseback riding, a goal she states openly and without hesitation.

This dual passion makes her something of an anomaly in both worlds. Most professional racers dedicate every waking moment to seat time, simulator work, and physical conditioning specific to driving. Most Olympic hopefuls in equestrian sports do the same for riding. Kira is attempting to excel at both, traveling with her mother and siblings to race weekends while maintaining her training schedule with horses. It’s an ambitious balancing act that speaks to either fearless determination or the particular brand of confidence that comes from growing up in a family where “impossible” wasn’t part of the vocabulary.

There’s a telling YouTube short titled “Kira Finds A Horse” that captures this perfectly—during the Lost Pines Rally at Rally Ready, Kira went missing with less than half an hour until her turn behind the wheel. Where was she? Off finding horses, naturally. It’s the kind of moment that would frustrate most team managers but perfectly encapsulates who Kira is: someone who refuses to be boxed into a single identity, even when the clock is ticking.

EARLY SUCCESS

Block started her competitive racing career in 2023, transitioning from karting to rallycross in side-by-side vehicles. It was a smart entry point—side-by-sides offer legitimate competition and skill development without requiring the massive budget of full-size rally or circuit racing cars. For someone splitting time between two demanding sports, it also provided flexibility.

She competed alongside her younger brother Mika and mother Lucy in various events, including the Baja 1000 and National competitions in 2023. The family’s racing operation became a true multi-generational affair, with Lucy, Kira, Mika, and Lia all competing in different series and disciplines. Block House Racing transformed from Ken’s personal racing program into a full family enterprise, with each member pursuing their own path in motorsports.

Throughout 2024, Kira continued building her skills through various rally and rallycross events. She trained at facilities like Rally Ready Driving School in Texas and the historic DirtFish Rally School in Washington, where she got seat time in everything from side-by-sides to a Subaru BRZ. The family also returned to their roots at Burt Brothers Motorpark in Utah (previously known as Utah Motorsports Campus), where Lia, Kira, and Mika all originally started karting.

In October 2024, while sister Lia was competing in F1 Academy races in Italy, Kira and Mika were in Texas securing podium positions at Rally Ready events. By late October, she was competing in the Lost Pines RallySprint, part of the Roadrunner Cup series. The family’s racing schedule had become a logistical puzzle of overlapping events across multiple continents and disciplines.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2023: Began competing in rallycross side-by-side racing, transitioning from karting.[1]
• 2023: Competed in the Baja 1000 alongside family members following father Ken Block’s death.[2]
• 2023: Secured podium finishes at Rally Ready Driving School events in Texas.[3]
• 2024: Competed in multiple Nitrocross events, including the Phoenix round.[4]
• 2024: Participated in the Lost Pines RallySprint as part of the Roadrunner Cup series.[5]

INSPIRATIONS

Block’s inspirations are split between two completely different worlds. In motorsports, she’s obviously influenced by her father’s legacy and her mother’s ongoing competitive spirit. Ken Block wasn’t just famous for his rally wins—he was a master at making motorsports accessible and exciting to mainstream audiences through his Gymkhana videos and social media presence. That approach to racing as both sport and spectacle clearly influenced how the entire Block family thinks about their public presence, including their active YouTube channel where they share training sessions and race adventures.

Her mother Lucy has emerged as perhaps the most direct inspiration for Kira’s approach to competition. Lucy didn’t just continue racing after Ken’s death—she intensified her involvement, competing regularly and managing the logistics of getting three kids to races across multiple series. The message was clear: grief doesn’t mean quitting, and being a mother doesn’t preclude being a fierce competitor.

On the equestrian side, Kira’s inspirations remain more private, though her commitment to show jumping suggests she’s following the path of top-level competitive riders who combine technical precision with the courage required for high-level jumping. The discipline required to train horses and build the trust necessary for show jumping translates surprisingly well to motorsports—both require reading subtle cues, maintaining composure under pressure, and the confidence to commit fully to a line or a jump.

REPUTATION

Within the Block family racing ecosystem, Kira has earned a reputation as the wildcard—the one who can’t be pinned down to a single pursuit. While that might sound like faint praise, it’s actually a significant identity in a family where everyone races. Being “the diverse one” means she’s carved out her own path rather than simply following in established footsteps.

In the broader motorsports community, Kira is still building her reputation, competing at a level where natural talent and training are starting to translate into consistent results. She’s known less for individual accolades and more for being part of a remarkable family story—the Blocks who kept racing after tragedy, who turned their Park City headquarters into a training ground for multiple disciplines, and who share their journey openly through social media and YouTube content.

The “Kira Finds A Horse” incident, while potentially frustrating in the moment, actually captures what makes her interesting: she’s unapologetically herself, even when that means prioritizing horses over a race car when most people would consider that unthinkable. In an era when young racers are often molded into media-trained, single-minded professionals by their early teens, Kira’s refusal to fit that mold stands out.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Block has stated clearly and publicly that her goal is to compete in the Olympics for horseback riding, specifically in show jumping. It’s an audacious goal—Olympic equestrian competition represents the absolute pinnacle of the sport, typically requiring decades of training and significant financial resources. But then again, Kira grew up in a household where audacious goals were the baseline expectation.

What remains unclear is how she plans to balance Olympic equestrian aspirations with continued motorsports competition. Olympic-level show jumping requires year-round training, regular competition to qualify for international events, and the development of partnerships with multiple horses. Meanwhile, building a serious racing career requires similar dedication. Most athletes would choose one or the other. Block, at 16, seems determined to pursue both.

The family’s Block House Racing operation continues to provide infrastructure and support for whatever path she chooses. With mother Lucy managing the racing program, sister Lia competing internationally in F1 Academy, and brother Mika also racing, the Block family has created a unique ecosystem where multiple racing careers can flourish simultaneously. Whether that ecosystem can also support Olympic equestrian training remains to be seen, but betting against a Block pursuing an ambitious goal has historically been a losing proposition.

REFERENCES

[1] About BHR – Block House Racing
[2] Ken Block’s family rallies and wins the Baja 1000, Nationals – TownLift
[3] Block family cars turning heads and corners in Italy, Texas and Michigan – TownLift
[4] 2023 Nitrocross Phoenix | Round 4 | SxS FINAL – YouTube
[5] Lost Pines RallySprint 2024 – eWRC-results.com
Kira Finds A Horse – YouTube
Ken Block – Wikipedia
Women Take the Wheel in Park City’s Auto Racing Community
Block House Racing – YouTube Channel
Back to the Roots! The Block Family Goes Kart Racing – YouTube
Training to Become Rally Drivers at a 100-Year-Old Sawmill – YouTube
Action sports legend Ken Block dies in snowmobile accident – ESPN