Report: Neil McDaid
Photo: Alex Gelsomino - FB
Atlanta, Michigan, the 2026 Sno Drift rally, the season opener for the American Rally Association (ARA), concluded with a heart-wrenching controversy and heartbreak for a rising star. What should have been a dream come true for 19-year-old Lia Block, daughter of rally legend Ken Block, ended in disqualification for receiving assistance from spectators during a time control. However, as the saying goes, “the rules are the rules.”
From the very first stage of this winter classic, Sno*Drift lived up to its reputation as America’s most treacherous and unpredictable rally. Held entirely on snow and ice across Michigan’s narrow, winding forest stages, where studded tires are prohibited by the State, this event has always been a test of grip and bravery. This year’s edition attracted a formidable and competitive national field, including seasoned National Champion Travis Pastrana and a host of private entries such as Patrick Gruszka, Alastair Scully, and WRC driver Sean Donnelly. All of them were contenders for a podium spot.
Block arrived in Atlanta with little fanfare compared to established ARA stars. Her entry in an Element Motorsport-prepared Ford Fiesta Rally3 was more of a curiosity than a headline act. With Alex Gelsomino in the co-driver seat, calling the notes, it was evident from the first stages that the former youngest ARA class champion was quickly getting a handle of the slippery conditions. After only four stages, she secured third overall and seemed poised for a podium finish. Heading into the final two stages on day one, Lia was third to Patrick Gruszka in his Hyundai i20 N Rally2. However, after passing through the final time control on SS6, Gruszka’s car lost all power, leading to his retirement and towing back to service. Patrick’s retirement moved Lia into second overall and past Sno Drift winner Mark Piatkowski into third.
Despite a few sketchy moments on the opening stages of day two, all was well in the Block camp. Lia kept the hard-charging Piatkowski at bay while keeping Pastrana in sight. However, things would take a dramatic turn as the final few stages of the rally approached. Veteran Subaru pilot Travis Pastrana, who was expected to cruise to another Sno*Drift victory, ran wide on a mid-day stage. This mistake resulted in a significant time loss, allowing Block to seize the overall lead. What followed was a masterclass in controlled aggression, with some strong advice undoubtedly coming from the co-driver seat.
Block showcased the Rally3 Fiesta’s power and exploited its short heel base traction, executing some spectacular corner entries. It’s possible that she learned some of these skills from her legendary father.
Lia and Alex entered the final stage with a commanding three-minute lead over Audi’s Javier Castro. History was on the verge of being made—not just a career-defining win, but an unprecedented one: the first overall ARA National win by a woman and the first rally victory for Rally3 machinery in the championship. However, fate, as it often does at Sno*Drift, had other plans.
Barely 100 meters from the finish line, Block’s Fiesta betrayed her. A timing belt failure sidelined her just shy of glory. In a dramatic turn of events, she and co-driver Alex Gelsomino pushed the car toward the finish control and then accepted a tow from fellow competitor Sean Donnelly. They crossed the line and were r
ecorded, but at the cost of incurring outside assistance—a violation that would prove decisive.
Post-event scrutineering and protest hearings turned the rally on its head. Both Block and Castro, the Audi driver who had climbed to second amid the chaos, were excluded from the final results for receiving help to re-enter time controls from third parties. Scrutineers, enforcing strict ARA regulations on outside assistance, removed both from the classified finishers, promoting Subaru’s Mark Piatkowski—steady throughout and penalty-free—to the outright victory.
The fallout has sparked intense debate across social media and rally forums. Some argue that the enforcement of assistance rules adds an unavoidable harshness to stage rallying. Others contend that in a sport where competitor safety and strict timing integrity are paramount, the penalties—though harsh—were justified. What cannot be denied is the emotional rollercoaster: from the potential for a historic triumph to the sorrow of disqualification.
For Block, the weekend was far from a complete wash. Her pace, carved into the ice-slick stages with the confidence of a seasoned rally veteran, was not only bold but also consistent. Stage times placed her among the fastest drivers in the field, and she returns to the championship as a serious title contender.
However, that’s a mere comfort compared to what could have been. Sno*Drift is the crucible where legends are forged or shattered, and at the tender age of 19, Lia Block’s legend is just beginning to take shape. Amidst the snow-laden Michigan trees, she reignited the rally world’s faith in her talent, proving that even when winter attempts to extinguish her flame, her passion burns brightly.
Lia mentioned that she will make an exciting announcement shortly regarding a new car she will debut soon. It’s possible that the debut will be in time for Rally in the 100aw in March, a rally that her father, Ken Block, won an impressive seven times!
Top Five overall:
Rank Driver Co-Driver Vehicle
1 Mark Piatkowski Aris Mantopoulos Subaru Impreza RS
2 Alastair Scully Stefan Trajkov Hyundai i20 R5
3 Sean Donnelly Zach Pfeil Renault Clio Rally3
4 Matthew Nykanen William Ross BMW 328i E36
5 John Barnett Lucas Laeser Ford Fiesta ST
Top 3 Winners in Open 2WD (O2WD)
Rank Driver Co-Driver Vehicle
1 Matthew Nykanen William Ross BMW 328i E36
2 Steve Rowlands Tessa Jordan BMW 330i E46
3 Nicholas Tippmann David Tippmann Ford Fiesta ST
