LIA BLOCK Falls Short of ARA Title After Dramatic Final-Stage Puncture

October 12, 2026

• LIA BLOCK lost the ARA National Championship on the final stage when a rock destroyed both left-side Pirellis on her Hyundai i20 N Rally2, dropping from title-clinching third to sixth on stage.
• Block House Racing’s strategy was perfect through Michigan’s LSPR—she’d posted second or third on every prior stage with a two-minute cushion over fourth, needing only to maintain position against Toyota’s Seth Quintero.
• Team principal Derek Dauncey called it “double the pain” compared to Ken Block’s 2022 crash in the same venue, noting LIA had the rally “covered” with calculated splits and flawless execution until the puncture.
• The rookie champion Quintero, guided by Jonne Halttunen, took the title as Block—toughened by F1 Academy experience—accepted second in the championship with composure despite the heartbreak.

ara national championship, ford fiesta rally2, hyundai