Proof that if you live in the lower 48 and want the consideration to become a potential F1 driver, that 2WD rally is your best path.
Photograph Courtesy Williams Racing
Williams Racing just announced that Lia Block, daughter of the late Ken Block, will represent the team in the 2024 F1 Academy season.
“We are excited to welcome Lia to Williams Racing as our F1 Academy driver for 2024,” Williams Racing Team Principal James Vowles commented, adding: “Lia has already achieved a tremendous amount in motorsport, has incredible natural talent, and the champion mindset and dedication to make a success of her journey into open-wheel racing.
“We cannot wait to get started on this journey together. As a team, we are committed to Formula 1 and F1 Academy’s joint efforts to improve female representation in motorsport, and we look forward to working with Lia as a key part of the Williams Racing Driver Academy.”
The 17-year-old Block will race with French team ART Grand Prix in the second season of F1 Academy, an all-female racing series established by Formula 1.
Proof that if you live in the lower 48 and want the consideration to become a potential F1 driver, that 2WD rally is your best path.
In reply to Captdownshift (Forum Supporter) :
But would this have happened if her dad wasn't Ken Block? (All else being equal)
In reply to triumph7 :
That didn't hurt- mostly because he had extensive motorsports connections and a predeliction for the stuff. Hard to deny her ability though.
In reply to triumph7 :
Lia is the real deal- not only did she win the 2wd national championship this year, she hopped in Ken's Cosworth with zero previous 4wd stage rally experience and was putting down top-5 overall times until it blew the engine at LSPR.
triumph7 said:In reply to Captdownshift (Forum Supporter) :
But would this have happened if her dad wasn't Ken Block? (All else being equal)
Hard to imagine. She has zero time in single seaters that I know of. That's pretty unusual for someone entering the F1 ladder. I'm pulling for her, though!
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ said:In reply to triumph7 :
Lia is the real deal- not only did she win the 2wd national championship this year, she hopped in Ken's Cosworth with zero previous 4wd stage rally experience and was putting down top-5 overall times until it blew the engine at LSPR.
I try to limit myself talking about these topics because people don't seem to like it but I'll just say this: We will see if she is the real deal when she starts racing in single seaters in a class with more competition. Right now, she's in the F1 academy because it's for women and she is Ken Block's daughter. Branding goes a long way.
Sure. I'm just pointing out that she hasn't exactly been just buying and marketing her way through her current motorsports endeavors, she has proven to be consistently fast in them.
Regardless of how she landed the opportunity, I'll be cheering for her to kick a$$.
In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :
She's had some solid formula E showings
I am glad she got picked , It will be interesting to see how quickly she picks it up.....
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