Laila Fitzgerald has joined Freya Lally in the 2025 Club 100 Karting Championships as winners of the first Motorsport UK Girls Karting Academy Scholarships.

The 2025 Club 100 season got underway at Whilton Mill this past weekend, with Fitzgerald finishing P6 in the A Finals and Lally taking p17 in the Cadet Super Lightweight Class.

Fitzgerald, from Harlow, and Lally, from Manchester, came through F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE Karting UK, a groundbreaking project led by Motorsport UK, F1 Academy, and TeamSport in 2024.

Lally qualified for Club100 after finishing as the best placed girl in the 2025 British Indoor Kart Championships. Meanwhile Fitzgerald came through an assessment day at Whilton Mill in February, facing off against the best competitors from the 2024 programme.

Megan Gascoyne (Lightweight Class), Laila Fitzgerald (Lightweight Class), Sarah Telford (Super-Lightweight Class), Mia Gualtieri (Super-Lightweight Class) and Lily Catignon (Super-Lightweight Class), were selected for the assessment day which was designed to evaluate skill, adaptability, and racecraft, as well as offer valuable feedback to the drivers and their families.

The participants, ranging in age from 11 to 12 years old, impressed the panel with their determination, driving techniques, and ability to adapt to both damp and dry conditions throughout the sessions.

The event was a testament to the skill and potential of young female drivers in the sport. Each participant demonstrated strong kart control and a clear passion for racing, making for a competitive selection process.

Fitzgerald scored highest in the selection criteria and received fully funded season of racing in Club100, a fantastic opportunity to continue their development in the sport. In addition, all five participants will become the first members of the new Motorsport UK Girls Karting Academy, reinforcing a long-term commitment to fostering female talent in motorsport.

As part of the recognition for their dedication and hard work, all drivers will receive a pair of Puma racing boots, while parents will be offered a place on an Accelerator Coaching Course to further support their daughters’ development.

Laila commented on shootout day, “It felt amazing to be part of a shootout with some very talented girls competing for the Club100 scholarship. The day was fantastic from the off, with lots of advice from the coaches. The track was very tricky due to the rain and was much harder to control the kart but it was so much fun. So far this season I have the northern and southern championship with Club100 and will see what comes my way.”

Girls Karting Academy days are soon to begin at TeamSport venues around the UK, offering more female karters the opportunity to compete for the recently announced Charlotte Tilbury Scholarship, covering the cost of entry to a full Club100 Karting Championship season in 2026 plus additional testing and coaching through the Motorsport UK Girls Karting Academy.

Dom Gaynor, CEO, TeamSport, comments, “We’re absolutely delighted to see Laila Fitzgerald join Freya Lally in the 2025 Club 100 Karting Championships as the first winners of the Motorsport UK Girls Karting Academy Scholarships. Both have developed their skills at TeamSport, and their achievements will hopefully serve as inspiration for other girls, to take that all-important first step into motorsport. It’s inspiring to see more young women making their mark on the racing scene, and we can’t wait to see what they achieve next.”

Hugh Chambers, Chief Executive Officer, Motorsport UK, adds, “The success of Laila and Freya is a testament to the high level of female karting talent here in the UK. Our thanks goes to the pioneering efforts of Susie Wolff and F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE in placing young female drivers firmly on the map. The launch of our Girls Karting Academy builds on the success of Discover Your Drive and provides a clear pathway for girls.”

Find out more about the Motorsport UK Girls Karting Academy