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Rallying’s ‘Queen of Speed’ and Academy backing: Lia Block’s Racing Idols
Raised in the rally and off-roading scene, Lia Block has been surrounded by trailblazers long before she first climbed into her own cockpit aged 11. But there was one gamechanger in particular who paved the way for the American to defy expectations in her own career.
The Williams driver discusses how she’s taken inspiration from the first, and so far only, woman to have won a round of the World Rally Championship as a driver, alongside how her family and legendary Formula 1 team backing have supported her in finding her own way to the racetrack.
Michèle Mouton
“She really changed the world of rally for women, competing in one of the hardest eras in motorsport — the Group B era — she completely changed it. From a young age, growing up in off-road and rally, she was the only one that I could really look up to and she was the only one that’s actually been at the top in WRC.
“It’s really cool because (her example) gave me the sense to know that it is possible, that someone has made the path. She’s opened up the doors for women in rally and I think that really inspired me to know that I can do it.
“Even today, I got to do a piece with her with Audi. So, I got to meet her and it’s really amazing what she’s done (…) There was definitely a lot she said, but I got to listen to all her stories about her experiences and I think I’ve learnt a lot from that.
“(I learned) that there were a lot of naysayers around her and that she looked past that, focused on herself, and was able to overcome them and use them as stepping stones. So, I think that’s definitely something I can use going into my career.”
HER PARENTS KEN AND LUCY BLOCK
“Growing up in motorsports and travelling all around the world with them, I got to see it from behind the scenes, looking through it with their eyes and all the struggles of my dad and my mum, when she was racing in-between having kids. So, it was really cool to grow up in a motorsport family that I got to see from the top growing up.
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“I never got pushed through racing when I was younger. I didn’t actually find my way to motorsports until I was about 11. So, I always had the opportunity, but never really took it until I had tried every single other sport I could. To have their support is really, really beneficial, especially in a world that is really hard to navigate.
“(From them) I learnt to never give up when something’s hard, to keep pushing through and always go after what you love, even if it’s not the easiest path.”
WILLIAMS RACING
“Looking back at all of their history and even today, with them not being at the top like they used to be, but they’re still working every single day to hopefully get there in the future. It’s a philosophy that I hope to carry with me.
“(When it was announced that I would represent Williams in F1 ACADEMY) it was quite crazy and I think people were very surprised about it, especially coming from my background in the championships that I’ve won in the US for rally. It’s a big change, but to be part of such a supportive team is super cool, and the people in and around it are so amazing.
“They’ve given me all the support they possibly can. Having them behind me gives me so much confidence going into every single test and race knowing that I can get better. They know that it’s going to take time for me and giving me this learning year, it makes me so excited for the future.”