Ella Lloyd

Ella Lloyd
Born	Ella Mai Lloyd (2005-07-20) 20 July 2005 (age 20) Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales
Nationality	British
F1 Academy career
Debut season	2024
Current team	Rodin Motorsport
Car number	20
Former teams	Prema Racing
Starts	12
Wins	1
Podiums	4
Poles	0
Fastest laps	0
Best finish	18th in 2024
F4 British Championship career
Debut season	2024
Current team	Rodin Motorsport
Car number	20
Former teams	JHR Developments
Starts	32
Wins	0
Podiums	5
Poles	0
Fastest laps	0
Best finish	11th in 2024
Previous series
2024 2024 2022–2023 2022	Formula Trophy UAE Formula Winter Series Ginetta GT5 Ginetta Junior

Ella Mai Lloyd (born 20 July 2005) is a British racing driver from Wales who competes in F1 Academy and the F4 British Championship for Rodin Motorsport as part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme.

Lloyd was runner-up in the 2023 Ginetta GT5 Challenge.

Career

Early career

Despite never 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. ^[1] She formally began her career four years later, in the 2022 Ginetta Junior Championship. ^[2] 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. ^{[3] [4]} 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. ^[5]

Formula 4

2024

Lloyd made her single-seater debut in the 2024 Formula Winter Series, driving for Rodin Motorsport in two rounds. ^[6] 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. ^[7] 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. ^[8]

Lloyd later joined JHR Developments for a full programme in British F4. ^{[9] [10]} Her debut came at Donington Park, where she finished 8th and 7th having notably overtaken the much more experienced Abbi Pulling. ^[11] 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. ^[12] 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. ^{[13] [14]} Despite skipping the penultimate round, Lloyd finished 11th in the championship with 99 points. ^[15]

On the tail end of the 2024 season, Lloyd competed in the first two rounds of the 2024 Formula Trophy UAE, where she picked up two best finishes of 17th. ^[16]

2025

Lloyd returned to the British F4 in 2025, switching to Rodin Motorsport in a dual campaign with F1 Academy campaign. ^[17]

F1 Academy

Lloyd's 2024 F1 Academy car in the paddock at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

In 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 1. ^{[19] [20]}

For the 2025 season, it was announced that Lloyd would be entering the series under Rodin Motorsport with support from McLaren, having joined the team's driver development programme. ^[21] At the first round in Shanghai, Lloyd qualified eleventh. Though starting at the pitlane for race one, she managed to climb her way up to 6th place, and in race two she finished in 7th. ^{[22] [23]} In Round 2 at Jeddah, she won her first F1 Academy race in Race 1. ^[24] In Round 4 at Montreal, she finished all three races in second place. ^[25]

Formula E

In November 2024, Lloyd and McLaren's incumbent F1 Academy driver Bianca Bustamante joined the McLaren Formula E Team for the Formula E women's test that took place at Jarama in Madrid ahead of the 2024–25 season. ^[26] Lloyd placed 7th overall at the test, a showing Gary Paffett described as "impressive". ^{[27] [28]} She participated in her second test session on 14 July 2025 again for McLaren at the Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit in Berlin. ^{[29] [30]}

Personal life

Besides 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. ^[31]

Lloyd is managed by Greenlight Sports Management, an agency run by 2003 Le Mans winner Guy Smith and fellow sportscar racer Andy Meyrick. ^[32]

Racing record

Racing career summary

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	18th
	Formula Trophy UAE	Xcel Motorsport	5	0	0	0	0	0	24th
2025	F1 Academy	Rodin Motorsport	10	1	0	0	4	84*	4th*
	F4 British Championship		9	0	0	0	1	9*	20th*

* Season still in progress.

Complete Ginetta Junior Championship results

(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	DC	Points
2022	Assetto Motorsport	DON 1 23	DON 2 Ret	DON 3 20	BHI 1 21	BHI 2 16	BHI 3 20	THR1 1 18	THR1 2 Ret	CRO 1 19	CRO 2 19	KNO 1 Ret	KNO 2 16	KNO 3 16	SNE 1 Ret	SNE 2 Ret	SNE 3 17	THR2 1 14	THR2 2 11	THR2 3 Ret	SIL 1 14	SIL 2 Ret	SIL 3 Ret	BHGP 1 13	BHGP 2 15	BHGP 3 13	21st	67

Complete Formula Winter Series results

(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	DC	Points
2024	Rodin Motorsport	JER 1	JER 2	JER 3	CRT 1	CRT 2	CRT 3	ARA 1 21	ARA 2 20	ARA 3 22	CAT 1 C	CAT 2 Ret	CAT 3 26	41st	0

Complete F4 British Championship results

(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
2025	Rodin Motorsport	DPN 1 10	DPN 2 Ret	DPN 3 Ret	SILGP 1	SILGP 2	SILGP 3	SNE 1 15	SNE 2 14	SNE 3 9	THR 1 Ret	THR 2 11	THR 3 7	OUL 1 8	OUL 2 135	OUL 3 13	SILGP 1 24	SILGP 2 10	ZAN 1 7	ZAN 2 32	ZAN 3 4	KNO 1 14	KNO 2 112	KNO 3 Ret	DPGP 1	DPGP 2	DPGP 3	SILN 1	SILN 2	SILN 3	BHGP 1	BHGP 2	BHGP 3	14th*	50*

Complete F1 Academy results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	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	ABU 3	18th	8
2025	Rodin Motorsport	SHA 1 6	SHA 2 7	JED 1 1	JED 2 8	MIA 1 Ret	MIA 2 C	CAN 1 2	CAN 2 2	CAN 3 2	ZAN 1 4	ZAN 2 4	SIN 1	SIN 2	LVG 1	LVG 2	4th*	84*

* Season still in progress.

Complete Formula Trophy UAE results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	DC	Points
2024	Xcel Motorsport	DUB 1 19†	DUB 2 Ret	DUB 3 19	YMC1 1 17	YMC1 2 17	YMC2 1	YMC2 2	24th	0

References

1. Harvey, Sophie (17 July 2024). "Woman Spotlight Wednesday: Ella Lloyd". Divebomb. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
2. Paice, Simon (16 March 2022). "Assetto Motorsport Sign Talented Quartet For Ginetta Juniors". Ginetta. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
3. Smith, Daniel (14 February 2023). "2023 Motorsport UK Academy drivers and co-drivers announced". Motorsport UK. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
4. "Ella Lloyd Joins Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT Championship". Ginetta. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
5. Paice, Simon (25 October 2023). "Xentek Motorsport Celebrate Triple Ginetta Championship Glory". Xentekmotorsport. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
6. Pluemer, Jonas (22 February 2024). "Ella Lloyd makes her Formula Winter Series debut with Rodin Motorsport". Formula Winter Series. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
7. Strebelow, Vivien (6 March 2024). "Ella Lloyd makes highly promising F4 debut at Aragon". Racers - Behind the Helmet. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
8. Redford, Liam (11 March 2024). "Ella Lloyd wraps up Formula Winter Series campaign at Barcelona". Racers - Behind the Helmet. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
9. Rose, Phil (16 February 2024). "2024 Motorsport UK Academy line-up confirmed". Motorsport UK. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
10. "JHR Developments rounds out strong British F4 line-up with Ella Lloyd". FIA British Formula 4. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
11. 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.
12. Waring, Bethonie (16 June 2024). "Leo Robinson takes maiden win in safety car-dominated British F4 race". Formula Scout. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
13. "Qualifying Rounds 22, 23 & 24 - Classification" (PDF). TSL Timing. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
14. "Ella Lloyd ends rookie British F4 campaign with podium at Brands Hatch". Racers - Behind the Helmet. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
15. "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.
16. @xcelmotorsport; (20 November 2024). "Xcel Motorsport is thrilled to announce the signing of McLaren Academy driver Ella Lloyd for the 2024 F4 UAE Trophy Series" . Retrieved 20 November 2024– via Instagram.
17. "Ella Lloyd to contest dual campaign in F1 Academy and British F4". RACER. 20 January 2025. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
18. "Lloyd announced as Wild Card entry for Round 5 of F1 ACADEMY". Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
19. "RACE 1: Abbi Pulling in full control as she delivers victory in Singapore". F1® Academy. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
20. "RACE 2: Abbi Pulling reigns triumphant with Singapore clean sweep". F1® Academy. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
21. "Teenager Ella Lloyd joins McLaren for upcoming F1 Academy season". BBC Sport . 8 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
22. "RACE 1: Palmowski claims maiden victory in Shanghai after penultimate lap heartbreak for Gademan". 22 March 2025. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
23. "RACE 2: Pin charges to dominant victory in Shanghai ahead of Weug". 23 March 2025. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
24. "Lloyd takes maiden F1 ACADEMY victory in Jeddah". Formula 1 . 19 April 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
25. Whitfield, Steve (15 June 2025). "Chambers wins incident-filled F1 Academy race three in Montreal". Formula Scout. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
26. "Ella Lloyd to drive for NEOM McLaren in Valencia". FIA Formula E. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
27. Smith, Sam (9 November 2024). "Who impressed in Formula E's groundbreaking all-female test". The Race. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
28. Smith, Sam; Williams, Georgia (11 November 2024). "Lloyd Impresses NEOM McLaren in Jarama Test". FE Notebook. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
29. Wilde, Dominik (11 June 2025). "Lloyd confirmed for Formula E rookie test". Racer. Racer Media & Marketing. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
30. ""I've grown a lot since the first test" - Alex Dunne and Ella Lloyd on their second time driving the FE car". McLaren . 19 July 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
31. "Winter Paralympics: The rally driver who crashed into championship skiing". 17 March 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
32. Smith, Sam (8 October 2024). "Formula E must take McLaren's new junior seriously". The Race. Retrieved 8 November 2024.

External links

• Official website
• Ella Lloyd career summary at DriverDB.com