Former Williams F1 Academy driver Lia Block united with Ken Block’s former co-driver Alex Gelsomino to tackle the Sno*Drift Rally in northern Michigan, which is the primary spherical of the 2026 American Rally Affiliation season.
“Good morning. We’re right here at testing for Sno*Drift Rally 2026. It was very, very chilly early this morning, about 5 levels. And that could be a Rally 3 behind us, however not my mother’s Rally 3 that I raced at Boone. So, similar precise automobile, simply not owned by Block Home,” Block defined in a video shared by Block Home Racing.
“I’ve by no means achieved a snow rally. And to make it even worse, we aren’t allowed to run studs. So, we’re caught with two tyre selections right here, a snow tyre and an ice tyre, and no in-between. And one other cool factor about Sno*Drift is the primary full day is all at midnight. So we begin Friday at 6pm and finish round 12am. So within the snow, blended circumstances at night time. It is definitely a rally that it is advisable simply end. So that’s our plan.”
She added: “This rally can also be particular as a result of it’s my first ever rally with a special Gelsomino in my passenger seat, Mr Alex Gelsomino. He was my dad’s co-driver for a lot of, a few years. He sat with my mum in 2023 when Rhianon sat with me, and we received the two-wheel drive championship.
“So I imply it is sort of humorous that Rhi’s again with Travis now, and I am with Alex, and we’re truly competing in opposition to one another. Travis might or might not have guess me a greenback for the general, and I do not know the way I really feel about that, however I suppose we’ll see.”
After 4 levels, Block sat third behind Travis Pastrana in first and Patrick Gruszka in second.
“Much more grip than we anticipated, far more snow on the floor,” Block defined. “So, it was actually enjoyable. I imply, the primary stage our lights have been pointing on the stars, so it was a bit troublesome to see. So we misplaced a little bit bit there. So, prepared for the second loop. Needs to be enjoyable.”
Lia Block, Gedlich Valencia testing
Picture by: Gedlich Racing
After eight levels, the previous F1 Academy driver had held her place in third, however moved as much as second when Gruszka suffered a gearbox failure, and after 12 levels, Block had closed in on Pastrana.
“We have been actually tight on time with Travis and Rhi. So, feeling actually good. We began getting some warnings, after which within the fourth stage, the automobile began chopping out on us power-wise. So, we predict the pinnacle gasket is perhaps going. Sadly, that isn’t a 30-minute service job.”
Block’s co-driver Gelsomino added: “We’ve got 4 levels left, about 25 miles. So I feel it is going to be a matter of making an attempt to handle, even when it signifies that we have now to do a few levels in street mode with out increase, with none strain and something simply to clear the stage. So fingers crossed that is all we will do.”
Whereas it was unhealthy information for Block, Pastrana additionally bumped into points after getting caught in deep snow with solely three levels remaining. They managed to proceed, however they dropped behind Block.
“Properly, that is sort of unhappy, however I imply it feels actually good,” Block mentioned when requested on the occasion the way it feels to be the primary lady to guide an ARA spherical. “That is the primary time I’ve ever led a spherical of ARA and clearly the primary time I’ve ever been in a aggressive automobile to try this, particularly at this kind of rally. We’ll simply should see you on the end, after which I am going to let you know extra about it.”
Within the closing stage, Block’s automobile broke down with simply two corners remaining. It was pushed throughout the end line after which towed to parc ferme, dropping Block the win. Sadly, as spectators helped to push the automobile to the end line, it was a violation of security guidelines and rules. In consequence, Block and Gelsomino have been disqualified from the rally.
“We have been buying and selling occasions backwards and forwards with Travis,” Block mirrored after returning dwelling. “It was going actually, rather well.”
“We have been main with two levels left. The final nook I used to be braking down for a left-hander and every little thing simply seized, the automobile stalled and it might not begin once more.
“And fortunately, it was a downhill proper there. So we tried to simply dump the clutch and see if it restarted. Nothing was working. So we tried to make use of that momentum to coast, however there was nonetheless proper, left as much as the end. And we needed to get some spectators to assist us push it throughout the road. And sadly, meaning we had outdoors help once we have been in management.
“It could have been a special scenario if the street had been flat or downhill. We would not have been disqualified. However sadly, the principles are the principles, and all we wished to do was end, which we did. And I would a lot moderately get DQ’d than DNF. Regroup and simply mirror on what occurred.”
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