LIA BLOCK Leaves CLAIRE WILLIAMS Speechless After Rally Demo at DirtFish

June 2, 2025

by Lydia Mee // from www.motorsport.com

• LIA BLOCK gave former Williams F1 deputy team principal CLAIRE WILLIAMS a rally demonstration that left Williams literally speechless. The 18-year-old F1 Academy driver took Williams around DirtFish Rally School in a rear-wheel drive Subaru BRZ, explaining how the “more fun” RWD setup gets sideways easier than all-wheel drive cars, even if it’s not as fast.
• BLOCK’s motorsports resume backs up the impressive demo – she started karting and off-roading at 11, entered her first rally at 15, and by 17 had won a championship, becoming both the youngest person and first female driver to clinch that particular title. Her transition to F1 Academy in 2024 has been challenging but rewarding.
• The Williams Driver Academy member admits the switch to single-seaters has been tougher than expected, telling Motorsport.com that she “knew nothing” about open-wheel racing going in. But that challenge is exactly what drives her – she’s using 2024 as a learning year, soaking up information from every race and track that’s new to her experience.

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