Lia Block is one victory away from American rallying history.
The 20-year-old can become the American Rally Association National champion, at her first attempt in a top-class car, provided she doesn’t concede more than five points to Toyota driver Seth Quintero at this weekend’s Lake Superior Performance Rally.
Hyundai i20 N Rally2 driver Block and Quintero, steering Toyota’s brand-new GR Corolla Rally RC2, have been the stars of this year’s ARA.
While World Rally Championship guest drivers Jari-Matti Latvala and Ott Tänak have won an event each (Olympus and Overmountain) for Toyota, W2RC driver Quintero took back-to-back wins in Ohio and Colorado while Block won in Ojibwe, setting up a tense season finale.
Just a week after a dramatic WRC season finale, Michigan is poised for a similar showdown as both drivers seek an LSPR victory that should unlock a maiden championship.
Lia Block is five points ahead of Seth Quintero when dropped points are considered
Block is currently 17 points ahead of Quintero, but with dropped scores factored in that lead shrinks to five.
If Block wins LSPR, she will automatically be champion. If Quintero wins LSPR, he also needs to outscore Block on the powerstage to seal the title.
Block’s co-driver Alex Gelsomino has, however, already claimed the co-drivers’ title, given James Morgan has replaced Topi Luhtinen alongside Quintero for the final two rounds following Luhtinen’s injuries sustained from WRC Rally Chile.
Rivals on the event include Conner Martell – who drives Subaru Motorsports USA’s Open class Subaru for the second event in succession with Travis Pastrana still ruled out with injury – Patrick Gruszka (Hyundai i20 N Rally2), Enda McCormack (Hyundai) and DirtFish managing director Brenten Kelly, who makes his first ARA National start since 2017 in a Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Aoife Raftery could win the L4WD class this weekend
DirtFish Women in Motorsport driver Aoife Raftery also has championship success on her mind, with what she describes as “an outside chance” of the L4WD class title.
The Ford Fiesta Rally3 driver, co-driven by Hannah McKillop, has been the clear pacesetter in 2026 but “a number of retirements this season from sliding off the road to mechanical issues,” have left her on the back foot.
“Whatever happens, we’ve gained a huge amount of mileage and experience this year as part of the DirtFish Women in Motorsport Driver Program,” Aoife added.
“I’m ready to give it my best, see where we end up, and let the rest take care of itself.”
