LIA BLOCK Shifts From Rally Champion to F1 Academy Title Contender

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March 8, 2025

GRRL! SUMMARY:

LIA BLOCK made the bold jump from rally champion to F1 Academy after winning the American Rally Association Open Two-Wheel-Drive championship at just 16, becoming the youngest ARA champion in history. Her transition to single-seaters with Williams Academy and ART Grand Prix marked a complete career pivot – trading dirt roads for tarmac circuits and learning everything from scratch despite her rally success.
Her debut F1 Academy season was a reality check, finishing eighth overall with 44 points after starting from the bottom of an entirely new discipline. The breakthrough came at Singapore qualifying where she secured fourth place, proving her hard work was paying off. Block’s biggest lesson was patience – learning to celebrate small gains rather than expecting immediate wins in an unfamiliar racing format.
With over half the grid changing for 2025 and four drivers who finished ahead of her no longer competing, BLOCK sees a clear path to the F1 Academy championship. She’s got new backing from Rockstar Energy to support both her single-seater focus and potential rally appearances on the side. At 19, she’s balancing the weight of her father Ken Block’s legacy while carving out her own identity, determined to be known for her own accomplishments rather than just as “his daughter.”