Lia Block will tackle a rally in an all-wheel-drive vehicle for the first time this weekend when she competes in the Lake Superior Performance Rally in her father’s Ford Escort Cosworth ‘Cossie’ V2.
The 17-year-old will compete in the Marquette, Michigan event alongside co-driver Rihannon Gelsomino, with whom she wrapped up the Open 2WD class with two rounds to spare at the New England Forest Rally in July, where she took her fourth class win in five starts this season in a Subaru BRZ. In taking the title before her 17th birthday, she became the youngest winner of a domestic rally title in the U.S.
“Because of that, I get to do the last rally in my Dad’s Ford Escort Cossie Version 2,” Block revealed in an Instagram video. “This is my first time [rallying] an all-wheel-drive car. I’m super excited to race this at LSPR this year. I Think it’s gonna be really fun. Hopefully there’s some good weather, maybe no snow this year.
“I am just super stoked to be able to race this car.”
While it will be Block’s first rallying experience in an all-wheel-drive car, it won’t be her first time competing in one. As well as rallying, Block has been racing in Nitrocross’ NEXT category this season, and Extreme E where she has been racing alongside recent World Rallycross event winner Timo Scheider for Carl Cox Motorsport. The duo so far have a best result of fifth, in the first part of the second Island X Prix.
The Cossie V2 – built after the late Ken Block’s original ex-World Rally Cosworth was destroyed in a fire in 2018 – debuted at the 2019 Rally in the 100 Acre Wood. It went on to feature in events across the world, including the Donegal International Rally in Ireland and Rally Mexico (pictured). It last competed in 2021 in the hands of Jax Redline on the New England Forest Rally, Redline failing to finish after the car developed gearbox issues.