Lucy and Lia Block will compete in the rest of this year’s Green APU American Rally Association series – returning in time for next month’s 100 Acre Wood Rally, an event won seven times by Ken Block.
Family friend and team manager Derek Dauncey confirmed the news of the mother and daughter entry to DirtFish on Wednesday. Lucy will continue to drive the Ford Fiesta Rally3 she used last season, while 16-year-old Lia will switch from a Fiesta Rally4 to a rear-wheel drive Subaru BRZ.
Dauncey said: “We’re very pleased to confirm Lucy and Lia Block will enter next month’s 100 Acre Wood Rally. As everyone knows Ken won this event seven times – it’s an event which holds a very special place for all of us.
“Rally was such an important part of Ken’s life and this fondness for the sport has spread throughout the whole Block family, so I’m pleased we will run this event.
“We also plan to enter the remaining ARA rounds and look forward to meeting everyone who makes the sport work on each rally.”
There had been inevitable questions over the Block family’s future in rallying following Ken’s death in January – but that commitment remains strong through 2023.
Dauncey continued: “Before the tragic events of January we’d made some changes to the team structure. This included introducing a new co-driver for Lia in Rhianon Gelsomino. Rhi will take over the co-driving duties and continue to help Lia’s development with her pacenotes.
“Ken’s co-driver Alex Gelsomino will co-drive for Lucy Block this year on the ARA rounds. Alex was a founding member of the team in 2010 so it’s great to continue to work with him. I would like to say a massive thank you to Michelle Miller, who stepped aside to allow this change; as a team, we greatly benefited from Michelle’s input last year.
“As for the cars, Lucy stays in Rally3 within the L4WD class, while we will run a new car for Lia in the Subaru BRZ Derik Nelson successful campaigned a few years ago. The change of direction for Lia will help with her driver development. moving from front to rear-wheel drive. It’s going to be fascinating to see how Lia’s obvious and natural pace translates to the new car.
100 Acre Wood Rally runs on March 17/18.
