Ken Block has a variety of cars in his stable. They're almost all Fords, mind you, but they vary from classic Mustangs and an RS200 to new Fiestas and F-Series pickups. But one of the coolest cars in his stable, we're sorry to report, has met an untimely demise.

Block was driving his 1991 Ford Escort RS Cosworth in the New England Forest Rally when he encountered some mechanical issues, hit a rock, and flipped. He and his co-pilot Alex Gelsomino thankfully escaped (largely) unscathed, but the car unfortunately didn't. While it might have been repairable from having flipped onto its roof, the fire that erupted in the aftermath made it an apparent write-off.

Based on the rally machine that Ford fielded to great success in the World Rally Championship back in the 1990s, Block's Cosie packs a 1997 WRC-spec 2.0-liter turbo four that, like much of the rest of the car, has been extensively modified. Instead of an iron block, it's made of aluminum alloy. The header's new, too – as are the exhaust and seven-speed sequential gearbox. So it produces 340 horsepower in competitive rally trim, or up to 620 for the kind of crowd-pleasing demonstration runs for which the Gymkhana master has become known.

Unfortunately after this incident, we wouldn't count on the Escort to wag its tail on gravel or tarmac any more. But you never know, maybe the team at the Hoonigan Racing Division will manage to recover it – or, more likely, build another of the same.