Lia Block Leaves F1 Academy to Pursue WRC Dream

Lia Block, daughter of the late rally legend Ken Block, is stepping away from the Williams Racing Academy and the F1 Academy series to return to her roots in rallying, with aspirations of competing in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).

Why it matters:

• This marks a significant pivot for one of motorsport's rising young talents, highlighting the diverse pathways available in racing and the importance of driver passion over a singular F1 focus.
• Block's decision underscores the unique challenges and appeal of rally, a discipline deeply embedded in her family legacy.

The Details:

• F1 Academy Stint: Block spent two seasons with the Williams Racing Academy, competing in the F1 Academy series.
  • During her time, she secured one win and one second-place finish across 28 races.
  • She finished eighth in the 2024 drivers' championship and ninth in 2025.
  • F1 Academy rules limit drivers to two seasons in the Formula 4-based category.
• Williams' Statement: Williams Racing confirmed her departure, stating, "It's been a pleasure joining her on the journey and we wish her all the best as she embarks on a new chapter in her career."
• Rallying Return: Block revealed to DirtFish her strong desire to reach the FIA World Rally Championship.
  • She explained, "These past few years, obviously I took a break from rally and off-road and went to the big boy world of F1. It's certainly been an experience and I've learned so much. But ultimately, it's not the world I necessarily feel like I belong in."
  • She added, "Rally has always been home. It's where I've had the most success and the most fun."
• Passion-Driven Decision: Block emphasized that her decision was driven by what she loves most and what she envisions herself doing for the rest of her career.
• Rallying Reacquaintance: While in F1 Academy, Block revisited rallying, claiming a class win in the Boone Forest Rally driving a Rally3-spec Ford Fiesta, a platform used in Junior WRC.

What's next:

Lia Block is now focused on following in her father's footsteps, aiming for the world stage of rallying, likely starting with the Junior WRC or a similar development path.

• She stated, "Coming back to rally, I want to go as far as I can and that means pursuing the WRC championship and pursuing a world championship."
• Her journey will involve setting small, incremental goals to achieve her ultimate ambition in the challenging world of international rallying.