Up-and-coming US-star Lia Block enters the Formula Winter Series with GRS to prepare for this year's F1 Academy season - and will be making her racing debut in formula cars this weekend at Jerez.
As the racing season approaches and with 2024 preparations entering its crucial stages, most of the world's top junior drivers are joining winter series to prepare for their upcoming campaigns. And with US-star Lia Block ready to make her debut in formula cars, having signed for Williams Academy in F1 Academy, the young racer will use this time of the year to further build her experience and collect mileage as she joins the first three rounds of the Formula Winter Series.
“It’s great to be working with the GRS team and I’m very happy to be racing with them for the first three race weekends of the Formula Winter Series", said Block. "It will be my first race in a formula car and I am looking forward to learning as much as possible to prepare for the upcoming F1 Academy season."
Lia is the daughter of rally legend Ken Block and an established off road racer herself – she was announced in the all-female F1 Academy championship, joining ART Grand Prix in the Williams-supported entry.
The 17 year old has recently competed across a wide variety of racing disciplines, including rally, rallycross and the all-electric off road series Extreme E, where she joined Carl Cox Motorsport from the Island X Prix in July, securing her first top-five finish.
Last year she won the American Rally Association O2WD National Championshipand was her the youngest driver ever to win this title and will be making now her debut in open-wheelers with Formula Winter Series before switching to F1 Academy for her first full season of formula racing.
Block will rely on a very special mentor throughout the F1 Academy season - Jamie Chadwick - and, together with ART Grand Prix teammate Bianca Bustamante, will rely on the expertise of GRS Team for her very first start in formulas.
“It is an honour for GRS to be part of Lia’s first steps in Formula 4", commented Josep Trinidad, CEO and Team Principal of the GRS team. "We are delighted to welcome her to the team and to the Formula Winter Series."
"Her ability to adapt to a completely new car and a different style of racing, as well as her attitude and work on and off the track are remarkable. We thank Lia and Williams Racing for the trust they have placed in the GRS team and look forward to three successful race weekends together.”
The first round of the 2024 season of Formula Winter Series will be held at Jerez on 9-11 February. The series will then visit Valencia Ricardo Tormo and Motorland Aragon. In its second year of competition, the series has seen a huge increase in entries, with almost 40 cars expected for the season opener.