Ella Mai Lloyd (born 20 July 2005) is a British[1] racing driver from Wales[2] who will be competing in the 2025 season of F1 Academy for Rodin Motorsport as a member of the McLaren Driver Development Program. She previously competed in the 2024 F4 British Championship, and was the runner up of the 2023 Ginetta GT5 Challenge.[2]
| Ella Lloyd | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  British |
| Born | 20 July 2005 Pontypridd, Wales, United Kingdom |
| F4 British Championship career | |
| Debut season | 2024 |
| Current team | JHR Developments |
| Car number | 44 |
| Starts | 26 (27 entries) |
| Podiums | 4 |
| Best finish | 11th in 2024 |
Career
editEarly career
editDespite never actually competing in karting, Lloyd's first taste of motorsport came in 2018 when she was invited to take part in the FIA's Girls on Track Karting Challenge at Silverstone.[3] She formally began her career four years later, in the 2022 Ginetta Junior Championship.[4] Racing for Assetto Motorsport, she scored points in 15 of 25 races and recorded a best race finish of 11th.
In early 2023, Lloyd was chosen for the Motorsport UK Academy Futures program and moved up to the Ginetta GT5 Challenge with Xentek Motorsport.[5][6] The season was an instant success, as she won on debut and picked up 10 wins, 10 pole positions and 17 podiums, eventually finishing runner-up behind Luke Garlick.[7]
Formula 4
editLloyd made her single-seater debut in the 2024 Formula Winter Series, driving for Rodin Motorsport in two rounds.[8] In her debut weekend she had her best qualifying time deleted for causing a red flag, which meant she started in 38th. She made up more than 30 positions over the three races, finishing in 21st, 20th, and 22nd.[9] She improved to 18th in qualifying for the next round, but weather and contact marred her results in the races. Lloyd won the female trophy in three of the four races she finished.[10]
Lloyd later joined JHR Developments for a full programme in British F4.[11][12] Her debut came at Donington Park, where she finished 8th and 7th having notably overtaken the much more experienced Abbi Pulling.[13] Lloyd's campaign took off in the fifth round at Silverstone, with three strong results including a maiden podium, where she followed teammate Leo Robinson through for a JHR 1–2.[14] The pair repeated the feat at Knockhill, and Lloyd also returned to the rostrum at Donington, where she qualified a season-best 3rd in wet conditions, and Brands Hatch.[15][16] Despite skipping the penultimate round, Lloyd finished 11th in the championship with 99 points.[17]
F1 Academy
editIn 2024, along with her British F4 commitments, Lloyd served as the wildcard entry for the fifth round of the all-female F1 Academy series at Singapore.[18] Although mechanical issues limited her mileage in practice, Lloyd qualified eighth, a mere 0.111 off fourth place. She improved to 6th and 7th in the races, but a penalty for a false start demoted her to 9th in race one.[19][20]
On 8 October 2024, it was announced that Lloyd would be entering the 2025 F1 Academy season for Rodin Motorsport with support from McLaren, having joined the team's driver development scheme.[21]
Formula E
editIn November 2024, Lloyd and McLaren's incumbent F1 Academy driver Bianca Bustamante joined the British outfit for the Formula E women's test that took place at Jarama in Madrid ahead of the 2024–25 season.[22] Lloyd placed 7th overall at the test, a showing Gary Paffett described as "impressive".[23][24]
Personal life
editBesides racing, Lloyd has also competed in skiing and show jumping. Her father, Chris Lloyd, is a former rally driver and later competed in the 2018 Paralympics in alpine skiing.[25]
Lloyd is managed by Greenlight Sports Management, an agency run by 2003 Le Mans winner Guy Smith and fellow sportscar racer Andy Meyrick.[26]
Racing record
editRacing career summary
edit| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Ginetta Junior Championship | Assetto Motorsport | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 21st |
| Ginetta GT5 Challenge - Pro | Xentek Motorsport | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | |
| 2023 | Ginetta GT5 Challenge - Pro | Xentek Motorsport | 25 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 571 | 2nd |
| 2024 | Formula Winter Series | Rodin Motorsport | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41st |
| F4 British Championship | JHR Developments | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 99 | 11th | |
| F1 Academy | Prema Racing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 17th* | |
| 2025 | F1 Academy | Rodin Motorsport |
Complete F4 British Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | JHR Developments | DPN 1 8 |
DPN 2 7 |
DPN 3 C |
BHI 1 Ret |
BHI 2 129 |
BHI 3 20 |
SNE 1 7 |
SNE 2 9 |
SNE 3 12 |
THR 1 10 |
THR 2 171 |
THR 3 15 |
SILGP 1 5 |
SILGP 2 2 |
SILGP 3 7 |
ZAN 1 12 |
ZAN 2 5 |
ZAN 3 7 |
KNO 1 Ret |
KNO 2 2 |
KNO 3 DNS |
DPGP 1 Ret |
DPGP 2 17 |
DPGP 3 36 |
DPGP 4 12 |
SILN 1 |
SILN 2 |
SILN 3 |
BHGP 1 12 |
BHGP 2 |
BHGP 3 2 |
BHGP 3 9 |
11th | 99 |
Complete F1 Academy results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Prema Racing | JED 1 |
JED 2 |
MIA 1 |
MIA 2 |
CAT 1 |
CAT 2 |
ZAN 1 |
ZAN 2 |
SIN 1 9 |
SIN 2 7 |
LSL 1 |
LSL 2 |
ABU 1 |
ABU 2 |
17th* | 8* |
References
edit- ^ "Ella Lloyd". ellalloyd.co.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ a b Gordon, Caitlyn (3 September 2024). "Ella Lloyd: The rising Welsh sensation's journey into single-seaters". DIVEBOMB. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Harvey, Sophie (17 July 2024). "Woman Spotlight Wednesday: Ella Lloyd". Divebomb. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ Paice, Simon (16 March 2022). "Assetto Motorsport Sign Talented Quartet For Ginetta Juniors". Ginetta. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Smith, Daniel (14 February 2023). "2023 Motorsport UK Academy drivers and co-drivers announced". Motorsport UK. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "Ella Lloyd Joins Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT Championship". Ginetta. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Paice, Simon (25 October 2023). "Xentek Motorsport Celebrate Triple Ginetta Championship Glory". Xentekmotorsport. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Pluemer, Jonas (22 February 2024). "Ella Lloyd makes her Formula Winter Series debut with Rodin Motorsport". Formula Winter Series. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Strebelow, Vivien (6 March 2024). "Ella Lloyd makes highly promising F4 debut at Aragon". Racers - Behind the Helmet. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Redford, Liam (11 March 2024). "Ella Lloyd wraps up Formula Winter Series campaign at Barcelona". Racers - Behind the Helmet. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Rose, Phil (16 February 2024). "2024 Motorsport UK Academy line-up confirmed". Motorsport UK. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "JHR Developments rounds out strong British F4 line-up with Ella Lloyd". FIA British Formula 4. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Guthrie, Gavin (9 May 2024). "British F4: What we learned from Donington Park and what to watch at Brands Hatch". Feeder Series. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ Waring, Bethonie (16 June 2024). "Leo Robinson takes maiden win in safety car-dominated British F4 race". Formula Scout. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ "Qualifying Rounds 22, 23 & 24 - Classification" (PDF). TSL Timing. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Ella Lloyd ends rookie British F4 campaign with podium at Brands Hatch". Racers - Behind the Helmet. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Ninovic and Fairclough claim final two race wins of ROKiT British F4 season – Martin Molnar crowned 2024 top rookie with Hitech Pulse-Eight teams' champions". FIA British Formula 4. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ "Lloyd announced as Wild Card entry for Round 5 of F1 ACADEMY". Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "RACE 1: Abbi Pulling in full control as she delivers victory in Singapore". F1® Academy. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "RACE 2: Abbi Pulling reigns triumphant with Singapore clean sweep". F1® Academy. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "Teenager Ella Lloyd joins McLaren for upcoming F1 Academy season". BBC Sport. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ "Ella Lloyd to drive for NEOM McLaren in Valencia". FIA Formula E. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ Smith, Sam (9 November 2024). "Who impressed in Formula E's groundbreaking all-female test". The Race. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ Smith, Sam; Williams, Georgia (11 November 2024). "Lloyd Impresses NEOM McLaren in Jarama Test". FE Notebook. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ "Winter Paralympics: The rally driver who crashed into championship skiing". 17 March 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Smith, Sam (8 October 2024). "Formula E must take McLaren's new junior seriously". The Race. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
External links
edit- Official website
- Ella Lloyd career summary at DriverDB.com