Lia Block’s Subaru debut on the American Rally Association National championship season finale, Lake Superior Performance Rally, has come to a premature end after rolling her WRX STI into trees.
Block and co-driver Keaton Williams overshot a left-hand bend in a forest and ran wide into the trees, with the car landing on its side. Both were unharmed in the off.
“We just came into this braking zone and it’s quite loose,” Block told DirtFish. “We just locked up in the beginning and got off line and somehow we ended up sideways in between two trees.
“The car is basically fine. If there wasn’t a tree right there we could just push it over and keep going. It’s a really weird situation.
“We got pretty lucky to not hit any trees like side on. We’ll have to see when they pull it out; it might do more damage pulling it out than when we went in!”
The reigning Open 2WD champion had been on target for her first outright ARA podium before the off. Her previous best result was fourth place at Oregon Trail Rally last year.
“I’m very disappointed,” said Block. “But we were running third. it’s a fast car, the fastest I’ve ever driven. Mistakes happen and you just have to learn from it. Hopefully we can get the car back out for the second loop of stages.”
Travis Pastrana continues to lead the rally from Conner Martell, who is driving a previous-generation WRX STI run by Vermont SportsCar. Block’s demise has promoted reigning two-time LN4 champion Javier Olivares to the final podium place.
Ryan Booth remains on course to clinch the O2WD title ahead of Michael Hooper, while Andy Didorosi leads the way in NA4WD ahead of title rival Madelyn Tabor.
