Blok Returns as Futec Expands to Two-Car Effort for 2025 Season Opener
- Canadian Tire Motorsport Park – Victoria Day Weekend
Beachburg native Nathan Blok kicked off his 2025 season with a strong showing in the Super Production Challenge, marking his third consecutive year behind the wheel of the Futec Motorsports Nissan 370Z.
This season, however, Futec Motorsports isn’t just a one-car operation. The team has expanded to a two-car lineup, introducing rookie driver Natalie Humble of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, who is piloting a Nissan Micra in the Compact class.
Humble spent Friday’s practice sessions steadily acclimating to the high-speed and technical layout of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Though she ended official practice ninth out of ten in her class, her pace and confidence improved steadily over the weekend. Meanwhile, Blok immediately picked up where he left off in 2024, dominating practice by topping all three practice sessions with lap times consistently half a second ahead of his rivals.
However, a damp qualifying session complicated matters for the rear-wheel-drive 370Z, and Blok would line up third on the grid for Race 1. The mixed conditions on the other hand, played into Humble’s favour. The front-wheel-drive Micra thrived on the drying track, and she secured an impressive third-place starting position for her debut race.
Race 1 featured a thrilling battle at the front, as Blok engaged in a tense duel with 2024 series champion Guillaume Labée. However, the race was cut short due to lightning strikes in the area, halting the event for safety reasons. Despite setting the fastest lap, Blok started Race 2 from seventh position due to the series’ inverted grid rule. In Race 2 race, Blok and Michael Habrich touched at 180 km/h coming out of Turn 1 battling for 4th. He managed to avoid damage with quick evasive action and mounted a spirited comeback drive, narrowly missing the win in a photo finish — losing by just 0.021 seconds to Alexandre Fortin. In Race 3, Blok found himself in another intense battle, this time with former Indy Car driver Alex Tagliani. After trading positions throughout the race, Blok ultimately settled for sixth place.
In the Compact class, Humble made a strong debut under pressure. In Race 1, she defended her position from veteran Patrik Wittmer and fellow rookie Jade Wilson, eventually finishing fourth. Race 2 saw her in another close battle with Wilson and Yannick Simard, resulting in a fifth-place finish. In Race 3, Humble pulled a significant gap early as Wittmer, Wilson, and Jean Audet fought behind her. However, a full-course yellow with 15 minutes to go bunched up the field. This gave Wittmer a chance to close in, and after the restart he would pass Humble, who crossed the line in sixth.
"We definitely had the strongest car all weekend, but luck wasn't totally on our side this time. Fortunately the track at Nova Scotia should suit our car much better, the Shellbourne fuels powered car performed flawlessly, so we should be in for a good recovery weekend in Nova Scotia" Blok stated, summarizing the weekend.
“Taking part in my first-ever race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park with the Futec Motorsports Team was an unforgettable experience,” said Natalie Humble. “I’m incredibly proud to represent a team that not only competes hard but looks sharp doing it, thanks to Precision Textiles for making us the best-looking crew in the paddock and on the pit wall. Huge thanks also to Shellbourne Fuels for keeping us running strong with their top-tier oil and fuel enhancer, and to Sun Signs for making both the Micra and the 370Z stand out as the best-looking car on the grid. I’m grateful for the support and excited for what’s ahead.”
Following the opening round, Blok sits fifth in the Super Production championship standings, while Humble is also fifth in the Compact class and currently leads the Rookie of the Year standings.
