Lia Block is a rising star in the racing world and is set to make her debut in the 2024 season of the F1 Academy. She will be racing with ART Grand Prix and representing Williams, making her the youngest driver in the program at just 17 years old. The F1 Academy was established by Formula 1 last year as an all-female race series, aimed at developing young female racers and preparing them for higher levels of racing, including potentially F1.
During the upcoming season, each F1 team will support at least one driver, and Block will be joined at ART Grand Prix by McLaren junior Bianca Bustamante. Block’s racing career has already seen her achieve success in various disciplines, including karting, stage rally, and rallycross. Her notable accomplishments include winning the 2023 American Rally Association Open Two-Wheel Drive, a feat that made her the youngest champion in the history of ARA.
In addition to her success in rally racing, Block has also had the opportunity to drive some of the high-performance vehicles built by her father, Ken Block. She has taken the wheel of many of these wild creations, including the recent 1,400-horsepower Hoonipigasus based on the Porsche 911 at the iconic Pikes Peak race.
While Block has experience across different racing disciplines, her entry into the F1 Academy will mark her first full season of open-wheel racing. According to Williams, she has already started testing in open-wheel race cars in preparation for the upcoming season. This transition represents an exciting new chapter in her racing career as she looks to make her mark on the competitive world of open-wheel racing.
The 2024 season of the F1 Academy will consist of seven rounds, with races taking place in Saudi Arabia, Miami, Barcelona, Zandvoort, Singapore, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. This provides an exciting and diverse lineup of races that will challenge and showcase the skills of the talented drivers in the program. The inaugural season of the F1 Academy was won by Marta Garcia, who drove for Prema Racing, and the upcoming season promises to be another thrilling and highly competitive series.
As Block prepares for her debut in the F1 Academy, she is undoubtedly focused on honing her skills and adapting to the demands of open-wheel racing. With the support of ART Grand Prix and Williams, as well as her own determination and talent, Block is poised to make a strong impression in the 2024 season. Her journey through the ranks of racing, from karting to rally to now open-wheel racing, demonstrates her versatility and potential as a future star in the world of motorsport. Fans and enthusiasts alike will have their eyes on Block as she takes on this new and exhilarating challenge in her racing career.