Lia Block Will Drive in the NEXT Series.
With anticipation building for its 2023-24 season launch, Nitrocross has announced the addition of Block House Racing driver Lia Block (USA) to the Round One driver lineup. Nitrocross is coming to MidAmerica Outdoors Oklahoma this Friday and Saturday as part of Visions Off-Road 2023.
Block headlines the NEXT roster, Nitrocross’ developmental class. For Block, this marks another advance in her career. The 16-year-old, daughter of the late motorsports and action sports legend Ken Block, made a major statement at the Oregon Trail rally last month, winning in her class and finishing just off the overall podium in fourth place. She currently sits in first place in the national championship for the ARA open class two-wheel drive. Block is also a perfect three for three to date in ARA racing this season.
Her skill set translates to other disciplines as well. Block has thrived in karting, where she has competed for three years, and she has competed in the Lucas Oil Off-Road series.
Block raced both side-by-sides and Sierra cars in Nitrocross’ predecessor, Nitro Rallycross. She is now progressing with her NEXT entry, which represents a jump in performance thanks to the 350hp all-wheel drive vehicles (similar to those used in Lites). Olsbergs MSE will run Block’s car.
Block said: “I’m so excited to compete in Nitrocross this season. I’ve gotten a taste of the intense, door-to-door action that Travis and Nitro Circus have cooked up, especially racing side-by-sides last year. Now, I look forward to the challenge of stepping things up and battling in the NEXT class against other talent from around the world. This is a true dream come true, after watching my dad race rallycross from such a young age.”
Block’s competition in Oklahoma includes Sweden’s Casper Jansson, driving for OMSE, who finished second in the 2022-23 NEXT World Championship after winning the NEXT North American title. A trio of drivers will represent BAK40 Motorsports, led by Jimmy Henderson (USA), who showed his consistency by making the podium at each North American round in 2022-23. Lane Vacala (USA) and Eric Gordon (USA) round out the BAK roster and NEXT field.
Nitrocross 2023-24 will encompass 10 rounds, spanning nine months set in six locations. Following Visions Off-Road 2023, subsequent announced stops will range from the desert Southwest to the frigid Canadian Rockies.
For fans unable to get out to the track, Rumble, the leading platform for live-streaming action sports, will stream the pulse-pounding Nitrocross action — all live and all free for fans around the globe.
This weekend will be a racing weekend like no other. The massive all-new course at MidAmerica Outdoors is purpose-built to Pastrana’s design, featuring a mash-up of his craziest ideas all rolled into one.
Beginning with a descending start on tarmac, it has over 150-feet of overall elevation change. After that initial drop, the surface switches to dirt in the form of a steep banked hairpin turn – the biggest berm in rallycross – which is designed to accommodate optional lines for the drivers. Tight snaking corners follow, leading to an over-under Joker lap split. Overall, this massive rollercoaster takes Pastrana’s game-changing concept for motorsports to new heights.