McLaren Racing has announced the addition of 19-year-old Welsh driver Ella Lloyd to its Driver Development Programme. As part of the team’s plan to nurture young talent, Lloyd will race for McLaren in the 2025 F1 Academy season with Rodin Motorsport and take part in the first-ever Formula E Women’s Test in Valencia.
McLaren Welcomes New Talent
Lloyd will be joining McLaren’s pipeline of drivers under the guidance of Stephanie Carlin, who highlighted her potential:
“Ella has great talent and potentialand has already cemented herself in the series, performing brilliantly as the Wild Card entry in Singapore, so we’re excited to see what she can do with us. We look forward to supporting her development,” said Carlin.
This programme supports drivers in developing their skills and advancing to top-tier series like Formula 1, IndyCar and Formula E.
Ella Lloyd: Racing Journey So Far
Lloyd began competing in the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2022, where she quickly made an impact, scoring points in 15 of the 25 races. She moved up to the Ginetta GT Championship the following year, securing a vice-champion title in a highly competitive environment.
In 2024, she took home multiple Female Driver Trophies in the Formula Winter Series and participated in British F4, finishing the season with three P2 results, one P3 and several points finishes. She also made a memorable entry as a Wild Card in the Singapore F1 Academy weekend, finishing in the points in both races.
With F1 Academy’s regulation capping drivers at two years, Lloyd is ready to step up and represent McLaren in the 2025 season with Rodin Motorsport.
Formula E Debut in Valencia
Lloyd’s inclusion in the McLaren Driver Development Programme comes with an exciting opportunity. She will take part in Formula E’s first-ever Women’s Test. It is scheduled for Nov. 7, 2024, in Valencia, Spain.
This test will run during the Official Pre-Season Testing for the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. It aims to give female drivers exposure to the cutting-edge GEN3 Evo car and experience at a premier motorsport level.
“I’m really excited to be joining the McLaren Driver Development programme as the team’s F1 Academy driver in 2025,” says Lloyd. “It’s an honour to drive for a team that has such a great racing history, and also a long track record for developing talent.
“With McLaren, I now have everything I need to keep developing and pushing the boundaries as a female in motorsport.
This dual role in the F1 Academy and Formula E is set to be a defining chapter in Lloyd’s career. McLaren’s support will be giving her the tools to grow in multiple racing disciplines.
Leave a Comment