Ella Lloyd: Pontypridd racing driver who dreams of Formula One

She’s a former show jumper who traded horses for horsepower.

Since she started motorsport four years ago, Ella Lloyd is already making her mark – and raising some eyebrows.

The 20-year-old said: “Males do not like to be outdone by females, and you can tell that by driving the car.” “They’re a little more aggressive, but I give it back to them and they stop.

“I want to beat the boys. I want to beat the girls. I want to be first.”

Pontypridd-born Lloyd wants to beat everyone when it comes to the British Formula 4 Mixed Championship, but she also has her sights set on success at the Formula 1 Academy.

The women’s-only Formula 4 competition is designed to give young women in motorsport a direct route to the top levels of single-seater racing.

Lloyd currently sits third in the Formula 1 Academy standings – the best British driver – with just one race remaining.

She has been on the podium five times, including a win in Jeddah, and will be hoping to end her first full season at the academy in style, in Las Vegas in November.

“I feel very confident. It’s a new track for me, the team and the whole grid, so it’s going to be a massive learning curve before the race weekend,” Lloyd said.