Lia Block Just Won Her First Rally Championship

Lia Block, daughter of the late, great Ken Block, just captured her first rally championship. Alongside her father's longtime co-driver, Rhiannon Gelsomino, Block took the American Rally Association (ARA) Open Two-Wheel Drive class title for the family's Block House Racing team. At just 16, Block is now the youngest champion in ARA history, securing the title with two rallies remaining.

Note: The image above shows Block and Gelsomino after taking a rally victory earlier this year.

"What’s a crazy year—the hard work the Block House Racing team put in was absolutely incredible," she said on Instagram. "I’m so thankful for everyone who helped get us here this season!"

Block and Gelsomino took four event wins and a second place on the way to title victory. This was her first full season with ARA and her first running a rear-drive car. Prior to this year, she ran seven ARA events, all in a front-wheel drive Ford Fiesta. Her Subaru BRZ also sported the "snow camo" livery of Ken Block's first Subaru rally car, a 2005 Impreza WRX STI.

Lia Block learned to drive a manual-transmission car at just 13 and has been competing nearly ever since. Very quickly, she emerged as the heir apparent to the Hoonigan dynasty. After Ken Block's death, Travis Pastrana—the only other driver to star in the Gymkhana series Block created—also said Lia was the one to continue her father's legacy. Lia and her mother, Lucy Block, have run a number of rallies and other motorsports events to honor Ken this year.

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