F1 Academy for Open-Wheel Racing

[reddevilsix]

Well this is new to me.


American Racer Lia Block Joins F1 Academy for Open-Wheel Racing

WHAT IS IT ?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In November 2022, Formula One announced the creation of F1 Academy, a racing series for women aimed to focus on developing and preparing young drivers to progress to higher levels of competition. It was created to help smooth the transition from karting to the single-seater ladder. The series was confirmed to consist of five teams with experience in Formula 2 and Formula 3, with each team entering 3 cars to make up a 15-car grid.

On 31 March 2023, Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali announced that the 2024 season would take place exclusively on select F1 weekends, joining Formula 2, Formula 3 and the Porsche Supercup as part of the support bill.


The five teams taking part in the 2023 season were announced in December 2022 to be ART Grand Prix, Campos Racing, Rodin Carlin, MP Motorsport and Prema Racing.

On 1 March 2023, Susie Wolff was appointed the managing director for the series.

For the 2024 season, all ten F1 teams will be supporting a driver each and will have the team's livery on their car. The remaining five drivers are to be supported by other partners.
F1 Academy is a female-only single-seater racing championship founded by Formula One with its inaugural season in 2023.



American Racer Lia Block Joins F1 Academy for Open-Wheel Racing
By Tara Hurlin
11/15/2023

Williams Racing announced that Lia Block, daughter of the late Ken Block, will represent their Formula One team in the F1 Academy for 2024.

As the F1 Driver Academy program opens its doors for Lia Block, some of her fans can’t help but worry about her continued involvement in American rally racing with the American Rally Association (ARA). She most recently won the 2023 ARA Open Two-Wheel Drive class and became the youngest champion to win the series. Block has also competed in Extreme E and rallycross, plus she piloted “Hoonipigasus,” a 1,400-horsepower Porsche, up Pikes Peak in tribute to her father.

For 2024, the 17-year-old racer will tackle her first full season in open-wheel racing. She will drive alongside Bianca Bustamante, McLaren’s newest 18-year-old junior team member, for ART Grand Prix.

“I am so excited to be joining the Williams Driver Academy and competing in F1 Academy in 2024!” exclaimed Block to F1. “This is something I never could have dreamed of. I can’t wait to embrace this new experience and learn as much as possible.”

“We are excited to welcome Lia to Williams Racing as our F1 Academy driver for 2024, James Vowles, Williams' Team Principal, said. “Lia has already achieved a tremendous amount in motorsport, has incredible natural talent, and the champion mindset and dedication to make a success of her journey into open-wheel racing.

“We cannot wait to get started on this journey together. As a team, we are committed to Formula 1 and F1 Academy’s joint efforts to improve female representation in motorsport, and we look forward to working with Lia as a key part of the Williams Racing Driver Academy.”

ART Grand Prix Team Principal Sebastien Philippe added: “Extreme sports are part of Lia's DNA and her debut in high-profile international competitions attest to her talent and her adaptability to a wide range of demanding environments. At 17 years old, Lia is driven with a great determination and an appetite for major challenges, that should allow her to quickly find her place on our team and in the F1 Academy.”