Williams Racing Driver Academy member Lia Block swapped asphalt for gravel last weekend, making a triumphant return to rallying with victory in the L4WD class at the Boone Forest Rally.

In her first rally outing in a year – and first time driving this car – Lia and co-driver Rhianon Gelsomino mastered the Kentucky stages to take class honours and an impressive P3 overall. The result also maintained the pair’s perfect record together, extending their streak to seven podiums from seven rallies.

The American teenager, who competes in F1 Academy with ART Grand Prix, is no stranger to rally success. She was crowned O2WD champion in the American Rally Association at just 16, and has multiple rally wins to her name.

Champagne celebrations for Lia and Rhianon

“WINNERS!!! What a rally, and what a team,” Lia posted on 

. “1st in the L4WD class and even 3rd overall. First time in this car and first rally in a year.

“So nice to be smelling of champagne right now… it’s been a while. Rhianon and I are now 7 for 7 on podiums for rallies we have done together, could never do it without her.”

Lia will now return to her F1 Academy duties, switching the gravel roads of Kentucky for the sand dunes of Zandvoort later this month.

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Lia has grown up in the motorsport world and spent many of her childhood years in the paddock. She began racing karts at 11 years old and entered her first off-road racing series in the same year.

Lia then started drifting cars at 13 years old and assumed drag-racing duties in the famous 1,400HP Mustang ‘Hoonicorn’ the year after.
She continued to build her skills in off-road racing and karting, becoming a front-runner in the Lucas Oil Off-Road Series’ lower classes by 2021 and taking multiple karting wins.

She later took part in the final round of the 2021 American Rally Association Championship in the Oregon Trail Rally as a 15-year-old, for the Hoonigan Racing Division, marking her first national-level rally.

Lia undertook more regular rallying in 2022 as part of the ARA championship, a season which included her best finish at the Southern Ohio Forest Rally where she placed 9th overall and 3rd in the O2WD class.

This proved an even more successful event for her in the 2023 season, achieving a 6th place finish overall and a victory in the O2WD class.

With two rallies to go, Lia secured the 2023 ARA O2WD championship to become the youngest ARA champion in history.

2023 has been a busy year for Lia, competing in Extreme E as part of Carl Cox Motorsport for the second half of the season alongside Timo Scheider. She has also begun her first season in Nitrocross NEXT, the junior category of the championship previously known as Nitro Rallycross.

In November 2023, it was announced that Lia will compete in the 2024 F1 Academy season with ART Grand Prix, as well as coming onboard as a Williams Racing Academy Driver.

Later in the month, Lia competed in the Baja 1000 alongside her mother Lucy Block and the Block House Racing Team. Lia and the team raced to victory following a grueling 34 hours of rally racing in Mexico.

Academy Report: Lia Secures Victory At Boone Forest

Class honours for Lia Block in Kentucky over the weekend

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