Written by Vyas Ponnuri
Lia Block, daughter of the late Ken Block, will make her Extreme E debut at the Island X Prix this weekend, driving for Carl Cox Racing alongside German rallycross driver Timo Scheider.
The Island X Prix is scheduled to take place on the 8th and 9th July 2023, as part of a double header. The event is set to be held at the picturesque scenes of Sardinia, Italy, which also plays host to the famous World Rally Championship (WRC)
16-year-old Lia Block has shown plenty of promise across the rallying scene in her short racing career. She learnt the trade from her father, the late Ken Block, a rallycross legend himself, and joined the Off Road Racing Series at the age of 11, even before she learnt karting, at the age of 13.
The American driver has regularly showcased her skills in off-road racing, competing in Nitrocross NEXT, alongside exploits in the American Rally Association Championship, which have yielded class victories and sixth place in the overall 2023 standings.
Lia is set to partner Timo Scheider at Carl Cox for the rest of the season, replacing the departing Christine GZ at the team from New Zealand.
The signing comes as a full circle for the Block family, as well as Extreme E, with Lia now set to venture into the world which saw her father make a name for himself, and rise to fame as one of the best drivers in the field.
Speaking on the announcement, Block said: “I am thrilled to be making my Extreme E debut at the next round in Sardinia for the Island X Prix.
“It is a huge opportunity to race for Carl Cox Motorsport and I cannot wait to get behind the wheel and out on the course. I am eager to do my best for the team and score some good results.
“I am really looking forward to working alongside Timo [Scheider], who I have known for years, and the rest of the team – it is going to be my first race outside of the USA, and up against so many big names in the sport, but I am looking forward to the challenge and keen to get started.”
Carl Cox, Team Boss, and founder of the Carl Cox Racing outfit spoke of the magnitude of this signing, “It is great to be able to welcome Lia into the team for the next round in Sardinia.
“We have been watching Lia for a while as she has already demonstrated enormous potential behind the wheel. When she became available ahead of the upcoming Island X Prix we were keen to bring her into the team, and we’re looking forward to seeing how she fares alongside Timo.
“She has already been mentored by some Extreme E greats in Tanner [Foust] and Andreas [Bakkerud], so has learnt from the very best and is eager to show what she can do.”
Make sure to catch Lia in action at the Island X Prix, set to take place this weekend on 8th and 9th July, 2023.