LIA BLOCK Faces New Mini Factory Challenge in Competitive ARA Rally Season

February 6, 2026

• LIA BLOCK’s Ford Fiesta Rally3 entry in the Limited 4WD category faces a significant new challenge as Mini launches its first North American factory rally effort, joining the competitive field alongside Travis Pastrana’s Subaru WRX. This manufacturer escalation signals serious investment in the ARA championship and creates a more challenging landscape for all competitors.
• The Mini factory team brings two JCW entries with Luis Perocarpi in the Limited 4WD class directly competing against BLOCK, while his brother Cristian takes on the Open 2WD category. Both drivers have road racing experience but are rally newcomers, making their debut at the snowy Sno Drift Rally – a 108-mile test.
• While the article focuses heavily on Mini’s rally heritage dating back to the 1960s Monte Carlo victories, what matters now is how this factory support changes the competitive dynamics for drivers like BLOCK who’ve been building momentum in what has traditionally been a privateer-heavy series. The manufacturer backing creates both opportunity and pressure in an American rally scene that desperately needs this kind of investment.

american rally association, limited 4wd, mini jcw, open 2wd