Ella Lloyd

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.dive-bomb.com/article/woman-spotlight-wednesday-ella-lloyd|title=Woman Spotlight Wednesday: Ella Lloyd|website=Divebomb|last=Harvey|first=Sophie|date=17 July 2024|access-date=7 November 2024}} She formally began her career four years later, in the 2022 Ginetta Junior Championship.{{Cite web |last=Paice |first=Simon |date=2022-03-16 |title=Assetto Motorsport Sign Talented Quartet For Ginetta Juniors |url=https://www.ginetta.com/us/news/assetto-motorsport-sign-talented-quartet-for-ginetta-juniors/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Ginetta |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Daniel |date=2023-02-14 |title=2023 Motorsport UK Academy drivers and co-drivers announced |url=https://www.motorsportuk.org/2023-motorsport-uk-academy-talent-announced/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Motorsport UK |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2023-02-24 |title=Ella Lloyd Joins Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT Championship |url=https://www.ginetta.com/us/news/ella-lloyd-joins-the-protyre-motorsport-ginetta-gt-championship-grid-with-xentex-motorsport/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Ginetta |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Paice |first=Simon |date=2023-10-25 |title=Xentek Motorsport Celebrate Triple Ginetta Championship Glory |url=https://www.xentek-motorsport.co.uk/post/xentek-motorsport-celebrate-triple-ginetta-championship-glory |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Xentekmotorsport |language=en}}

Lloyd made her single-seater debut in the 2024 Formula Winter Series, driving for Rodin Motorsport in two rounds.{{Cite web |last=Pluemer |first=Jonas |date=2024-02-22 |title=Ella Lloyd makes her Formula Winter Series debut with Rodin Motorsport |url=https://formula-winter-series.com/news/ella-lloyd-makes-her-formula-winter-series-debut-with-rodin-motorsport/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Formula Winter Series |language=en-GB}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Strebelow |first=Vivien |date=2024-03-06 |title=Ella Lloyd makes highly promising F4 debut at Aragon |url=https://www.racers-behindthehelmet.com/post/ella-lloyd-makes-highly-promising-f4-debut-at-aragon |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Racers - Behind the Helmet |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Redford |first=Liam |date=2024-03-11 |title=Ella Lloyd wraps up Formula Winter Series campaign at Barcelona |url=https://www.racers-behindthehelmet.com/post/ella-lloyd-wraps-up-formula-winter-series-campaign-at-barcelona |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Racers - Behind the Helmet |language=en}}

Lloyd later joined JHR Developments for a full programme in British F4.{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Phil |date=2024-02-16 |title=2024 Motorsport UK Academy line-up confirmed |url=https://www.motorsportuk.org/2024-motorsport-uk-academy-line-up-confirmed/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Motorsport UK |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=JHR Developments rounds out strong British F4 line-up with Ella Lloyd |url=https://fiaformula4.com/jhr-developments-rounds-out-strong-british-f4-line-up-with-ella-lloyd/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=FIA British Formula 4 |language=en}} Her debut came at Donington Park, where she finished 8th and 7th having notably overtaken the much more experienced Abbi Pulling.{{Cite news |last=Guthrie |first=Gavin |date=2024-05-09 |title=British F4: What we learned from Donington Park and what to watch at Brands Hatch |url=https://feederseries.net/2024/05/09/british-f4-what-we-learned-from-donington-park-and-what-to-watch-in-brands-hatch/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Feeder Series |language=en}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Waring |first=Bethonie |date=2024-06-16 |title=Leo Robinson takes maiden win in safety car-dominated British F4 race |url=https://formulascout.com/leo-robinson-takes-maiden-win-in-safety-car-dominated-british-f4-race/120191 |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Formula Scout |language=en}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=TOCA/2024/243403qu1bf4.pdf|title=Qualifying Rounds 22, 23 & 24 - Classification|website=TSL Timing|date=2024-08-24|access-date=2024-11-08}}{{Cite web |date=2024-10-10 |title=Ella Lloyd ends rookie British F4 campaign with podium at Brands Hatch |url=https://www.racers-behindthehelmet.com/post/ella-lloyd-ends-rookie-british-f4-campaign-with-podium-at-brands-hatch |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Racers - Behind the Helmet |language=en}} Despite skipping the penultimate round, Lloyd finished 11th in the championship with 99 points.{{Cite web |title=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 |url=https://fiaformula4.com/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/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=FIA British Formula 4 |language=en}}

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.{{Cite instagram|postid=DCoka8mzM4I|user=xcelmotorsport|title=Xcel Motorsport is thrilled to announce the signing of McLaren Academy driver Ella Lloyd for the 2024 F4 UAE Trophy Series.|date=20 November 2024|access-date=20 November 2024}}

Lloyd returned to the British F4 in 2025, switching to Rodin Motorsport in a dual campaign with F1 Academy campaign.{{Cite web|title=Ella Lloyd to contest dual campaign in F1 Academy and British F4|date=20 January 2025|url=https://www.racers-behindthehelmet.com/post/ella-lloyd-to-contest-dual-campaign-in-f1-academy-and-british-f4|access-date=26 April 2025|website=RACER|language=en}}

File:Ella Lloyd Tatuus Singapore 2024.jpg 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.{{Cite web |title=Lloyd announced as Wild Card entry for Round 5 of F1 ACADEMY |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/ella-lloyd-announced-as-wild-card-entry-for-round-5-of-f1-academy-in.oWuVGnLoMNl9RN5O7sUoH |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |title=RACE 1: Abbi Pulling in full control as she delivers victory in Singapore |url=https://www.f1academy.com/Latest/2ZFqVnOPQd1zhqIq17PO5h/race-1-pulling-in-full-control-as-she-delivers-victory-in-singapore |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=F1® Academy |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=RACE 2: Abbi Pulling reigns triumphant with Singapore clean sweep |url=https://www.f1academy.com/Latest/637eAs6ObMtuVTSLfv8rU5/race-2-pulling-reigns-triumphant-with-singapore-clean-sweep |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=F1® Academy |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |date=8 October 2024 |title=Teenager Ella Lloyd joins McLaren for upcoming F1 Academy season |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/ce8v2nv83djo |access-date=8 October 2024 |website=BBC Sport |language=}} 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.{{Cite web |date=22 March 2025|title=RACE 1: Palmowski claims maiden victory in Shanghai after penultimate lap heartbreak for Gademan|url=https://www.f1academy.com/Latest/1Tjkym7HpycG9OuXi8xMgM/race-1-palmowski-claims-maiden-victory-in-shanghai-after-penultimate-lap|access-date=31 March 2025}}{{Cite web |date=23 March 2025|title=RACE 2: Pin charges to dominant victory in Shanghai ahead of Weug|url=https://www.f1academy.com/Latest/3aCAnzhmjHcKeI689kpVef/race-2-pin-charges-to-dominant-victory-in-shanghai-ahead-of-weug|access-date=31 March 2025}} In Round 2 at Jeddah, she won her first F1 Academy race in Race 1.{{Cite web |date=19 April 2025 |title=Lloyd takes maiden F1 ACADEMY victory in Jeddah |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/f1-academy-lloyd-narrowly-holds-off-weug-to-take-thrilling-maiden-victory-in.daB3Qd3bKMzePL20QIvZX |access-date=20 April 2025 |website=Formula 1 |language=en}} In Round 4 at Montreal, she finished all three races in second place.{{Cite web |last=Whitfield |first=Steve |date=15 June 2025 |title=Chambers wins incident-filled F1 Academy race three in Montreal |url=https://formulascout.com/chambers-wins-incident-filled-f1-academy-race-three-in-montreal/131988 |access-date=15 June 2025 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web |date=8 October 2024 |title=Ella Lloyd to drive for NEOM McLaren in Valencia |url=https://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/510257 |access-date=8 November 2024 |website=FIA Formula E |language=}} Lloyd placed 7th overall at the test, a showing Gary Paffett described as "impressive".{{cite web|url=https://www.the-race.com/formula-e/who-impressed-in-formula-es-groundbreaking-all-female-test/|title=Who impressed in Formula E's groundbreaking all-female test|website=The Race|last=Smith|first=Sam|date=9 November 2024|access-date=9 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://fenotebook.com/2024/11/11/lloyd-impresses-neom-mclaren-in-jarama-test/|title=Lloyd Impresses NEOM McLaren in Jarama Test|website=FE Notebook|last=Smith|first=Sam|last2=Williams|first2=Georgia|date=11 November 2024|access-date=11 November 2024}} She is set to participate in her second test session on 14 July 2025 again for McLaren at the Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit in Berlin.{{cite web |last=Wilde |first=Dominik |date=11 June 2025 |title=Lloyd confirmed for Formula E rookie test |url=https://racer.com/2025/06/10/lloyd-confirmed-for-formule-e-rookie-test |website=Racer |publisher=Racer Media & Marketing |access-date=11 June 2025}}

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.{{Cite news |date=2018-03-17 |title=Winter Paralympics: The rally driver who crashed into championship skiing |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/disability-43363275 |access-date=2024-09-30 |language=en-GB}}

Lloyd is managed by Greenlight Sports Management, an agency run by 2003 Le Mans winner Guy Smith and fellow sportscar racer Andy Meyrick.{{cite web|url=https://www.the-race.com/formula-e/formula-e-mclaren-new-junior-ella-llyod-more-seriously/|title=Formula E must take McLaren's new junior seriously|website=The Race|last=Smith|first=Sam|date=8 October 2024|access-date=8 November 2024}}

{{asterisk}} Season still in progress.

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

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

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

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! 18th*

! 18*

|}

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|style="background:#;"| ZAN
2
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|style="background:#;"| SIN
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|style="background:#;"| LVG
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|style="background:#;"| LVG
2
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! 4th*

! 67*

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{{asterisk}} Season still in progress.

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

{{Notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|ellalloyd.co.uk}}
• {{DriverDB driver|ella-lloyd}}

{{F1 Academy drivers}}

{{McLaren}}

{{Rodin}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lloyd, Ella}}

Category:2005 births

Category:Living people

Category:F1 Academy drivers

Category:Welsh racing drivers

Category:21st-century Welsh sportswomen

Category:British F4 Championship drivers

Category:Prema Powerteam drivers

Category:Sportspeople from Pontypridd

Category:British female racing drivers

Category:McLaren Racing drivers

Category:JHR Developments drivers

Category:Ginetta Junior Championship drivers

Category:Rodin Motorsport drivers

Category:Formula Winter Series drivers