The sixth instalment of Gymkhana, called ‘The Ultimate Gymkhana Grid Course’, features a real-life playground complete with a moving wrecking ball and videogame elements from EA’s latest video game, ‘Need for Speed – Rivals’.
Block returns in his Ford Fiesta ST RX43 2013 rally car, in which he dives in and out of shipping containers, evades the Segway-mounted cops and drifts around the videogame-themed Lamborghini Aventadors.
The video itself harks back to the original Gymkhana Practice video, using a man-made course, rather than the 1.58 mile oval track used in Gymkhana THREE or the streets of San Francisco which provided the backdrop for Gymkhana FIVE.
Is it novel? Not really, but Ken will tell you himself how difficult it’s become to create new ideas for his Gymkhana videos.
READ: The Accidental Hero – An interview with Ken Block.
Instead it’s a moving billboard for Need for Speed Rivals and Ken’s own Hoonigan brand, which means our favourite of the series is still Gymkhana THREE which has thus far clocked up more than 53 million views.
Still, the hard-core fans will love it, with 97% of voters on YouTube already giving it the ‘thumbs up’.
Legions of tyres were destroyed in the making of this latest chapter of the series which has clocked up more than 250 million views since it burst on the scene in 2007.
Over 10.7 million shares** have been accumulated for the series, making DC Shoes the most shared brand of all time – but with the spotlight now on EA, will it generate the same response from viewers?
Ken Block becomes Need For Speed’s Racing Advisor
Last month Block signed a multi-year agreement with EA, becoming their ‘Racing Advisor’ and working with EA Studio Ghost Games to “provide gamers [with] the most adrenaline-filled and fun racing experience in the industry.”
In turn, Need For Speed is sponsoring Block and his Ford Fiesta ST 2013 rally car, while helping produce Gymkhana SIX.
Ken Block’s favourite cop car in Need for Speed Rivals is the Lamborghini Aventador.
“I feel like [Need for Speed and EA] both have the same goal in mind – to let people live out a fantasy of really pushing the limits of what you can do in the driver’s seat” said Block. “We’re excited to show you how we’re taking things to a new level in Gymkhana SIX, which will be out on November 11th.”
As for the much anticipated Need For Speed – Rivals? It launches next Friday 15th November in North America.
SEE ALSO: Gymkhana GRiD plays its qualifying finale at Silverstone (w/VIDEO).
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**Data provided by Unruly Media.
