Ken Block’s daughter Lia will race Pikes Peak in the 1,400bhp Hoonipigasus

Lia Block has announced she will race at this year’s Pikes Peak International Hillclimb in honour of her father Ken, who sadly passed away earlier this year in a snowmobile accident.

And the 16-year old racer will do it in a car Ken had hoped to use himself in the famous ‘race to the clouds’ – the 1,400bhp ‘Hoonipigasus’.

Announcing the ‘tribute’ run via social media, Block said: “I am stoked to be going up the mountain in this crazy build (even though it’s not a timed run), and getting my feet wet on the legendary mountain,” she said.

Built to fulfil Ken’s long-held ambition to take overall victory at Pikes Peak – having first driven there in 2005 – and as a tribute to the legendary 'Pink Pig' 917/20, the Hoonipigasus is a Porsche 911 modified beyond all recognition. Taking a 1966 912 as its base, Ken – in collaboration with Hoonigan and BBi Autosport – spent ten years building up the mid-engined, spaceframe racer to be a Pikes-worthy prototype.

There’s a 4.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six engine on board, treated to much modification enabling that outlandish power figure, AWD, fancy suspension and seemingly mile-long diffusers front and back delivering heavy downforce.

Which in turn will help Lia - fast becoming an accomplished rally driver - deliver one of her father’s long held ambitions to ‘compete for an overall win’ at Pikes Peak. Teasing a potential record attempt, Lia added: “Perhaps just warming up for a future run?”

Watch this space…