Gymkhana FIVE: San Francisco - The Ultimate Urban Playground

It’s here, the fifth episode in the web’s most successful social video series and for the first time Gymkhana is let loose on the city streets of San Francisco, home of the iconic Steve McQueen car chase film, Bullit.

Gymkhana FIVE builds on the success of the previous Gymkhana viral video series, which has accumulated more than 140 million views since September 2008.

When Ken spoke with us back in December, he talked about the challenge of raising the bar with each Gymkhana edition and continuing to delight his many fans, but as long as he’s having fun he’ll carry on making them.

“My idea for Gymkhana FIVE was simple,” said Block. “I wanted to build on the ultimate playground concept from Gymkhana THREE, and bring the franchise back to that raw and fast feel that the earlier videos had.

“I’ve always wanted to film a Gymkhana video in a city and there are few places as unique and iconic with such amazing topography as San Francisco. While movies like Bullit and various chase scenes have tried to use San Francisco to the fullest, I’m pretty confident that I’ve proven there was a lot left to be done on those amazing streets!”

As before, you, the audience, will be the final arbiters of Block’s success. Gymkhana FIVE not only becomes the first video set within a recognisable city, there are also a few world records plus a special guest appearance from fellow DC Shoes driver/rider, Travis Pastrana.

Making a return for the second year in a row is Block’s Ford Fiesta H.F.H.V. racecar, and Block’s social outreach has been well underway since June 18th when the first teaser video dropped and his Photochop competition began on his Facebook page.

Discover: You can find out more about the viral performance of Ken Block’s Gymkhana series by reading ‘Darth Vader Can’t Gymkhana’ on the Viral Video Chart blog.

Gymkhana GRID is coming to Europe

2012 also sees the return of ‘Gymkhana GRID: The European Gauntlet’ offering the chance to test your metal against Block and drift champion Vaughn Gittin Jnr at a series of live events culminating in the finals during the weekend of 27/28 October 2012 at Flame & Thunder, Santa Pod, UK.

If Gymkhana FIVE has got you buzzing, then there are three more heats available at Trax (GB) on 02 September, Sport1 Track Day (Germany) on 08 September and AutoMaxx Super Sunday (Holland) on 16th September. Just visit www.gymkhanagrid.com and register for battle.

Image credit: DC Shoes