Short, perhaps, of apple pie and hot-dog eating contests at the state fair, it doesn’t get much more quintessentially American than Ken Block smoking the tires off a custom vintage Mustang. And short of sipping Earl Gray in a tweed jacket, it doesn’t get much more quintessentially British than a visit to Goodwood.
Bringing the two together, then, is something of a collision of worlds that might seem better kept apart by the ocean that divides them. But that’s just what the people at Turn 10 Studios have done to celebrate the launch of Forza Horizon 4.
This latest video shows the Gymkhana master himself behind the wheel of his 1965 Ford Mustang – dubbed Hoonicorn V2 and complete with 1,400 horsepower – doing what he does best on the grounds of the Goodwood Estate; home to the Festival of Speed, the Goodwood Revival, and other such iconically British motoring events. These are hallowed grounds, in short, but that hasn’t stopped Block from disturbing the peace of the Duke of Richmond’s sprawling and immaculate grounds.
As if that weren’t enough all its own, Block also took the opportunity to pull some sideways donuts around other quintessentially British motoring icons like an original Mini Cooper (decked out in Union Jack livery), a McLaren Senna (which recently performed its own stunts in celebration of the same), and even a Supermarine Spitfire fighter plane (of WW2 fame and vintage). And to top it all off, it even includes (if our eyes don’t deceive us) a cameo by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson – a strongman turned actor who may be of Icelandic nationality, but became part of British lore when he played Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane on Game of Thrones.
If you’re as enamored of Block’s antics as the rest of us, you’ll want to check out the three-minute clip for yourself. So deep-fry yourself some scones, poor yourself an ale (make it a cold one), turn up the speakers, and enjoy the ride.