F1 News: Ken Block's Daughter Lia Block Set To Join Williams For 2024 F1 Academy
Williams has announced that 17-year-old American driver Lia Block will be boarding the team on the 2024 Formula 1 Academy grid as she joins the Driver Academy Programme. She is the daughter of late motorsport legend Ken Block, who passed away in a snowmobile accident earlier this year.
The young driver has already earned a few credits for herself in Rally, Extreme E, and Rallycross. She was also the youngest American Rally Association Champion when she won the Open Two-Wheel Drive class this year.
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Block will go through her first season in open-wheel racing with ART Grand Prix in F1 Academy alongside McLaren junior Bianca Bustamante. Revealing her excitement to the media, she said:
“I am so excited to be joining the Williams Driver Academy and competing in F1 Academy in 2024!
“This is something I never could have dreamed of. I can’t wait to embrace this new experience and learn as much as possible.”
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Speaking on the successful selection of Block into the team, Williams team principal James Vowles said:
“We are excited to welcome Lia to Williams Racing as our F1 Academy driver for 2024. 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.”
ART Grand Prix Team Principal Sebastien Philippe added that extreme sports have been a part of Lia's DNA. He concluded:
“Extreme sports are part of Lia's DNA and her debut in high-profile international competitions attest to her talent and her adaptability to a wide range of demanding environments. At 17 years old, Lia is driven with a great determination and an appetite for major challenges, that should allow her to quickly find her place on our team and in the F1 Academy.”