The Motorsport UK Girls Karting Academy is driving female participation in the sport and with the next taster days coinciding with the half-term break, girls from as young as 8-years-old can follow in the tyre tracks of academy drivers such as Freya Lally, who in April claimed her first A Final victory in a Club 100 race.
The Motorsport UK Girls Karting Academy provides a safe and inclusive space for newcomers to come and give motorsport a go. Delivered with TeamSport indoor Karting, the Motorsport UK Girls Karting Academy taster days are run at 14 different venues across the country with a mixture of on track learning, as well as some off track games and support. Head here for event information, including how to book and here for more information on the Motorsport UK Girls Karting Academy, including scholarship programmes.
Freya, who began her racing career with the Motorsport UK Girls Karting Academy, won the Club 100 Cadet Super Lightweight North event at Whilton Mill in Northamptonshire. The 11-year-old dominated the weekend, topping four of the six sessions and posting fastest lap overall on Friday and Saturday.
Freya said: “It feels amazing to win both a Pre-A Final and an A Final, and hopefully it’s the first of many. It’s really important because it shows other girls that they can win too. Hopefully it gives them the confidence to believe in themselves and go for it.”
Freya’s father Gareth added: “She’s worked so hard over the past year and is always committed to improving every time she’s on track. This result feels like a big milestone, but it’s also motivation to keep pushing forward. We’ve set our targets for this year and we’re aiming for at least five wins (out of the 14 Club 100 events) as well as winning the overall championship in either North or South.”
Freya’s journey into motorsport started on her 9th birthday in 2023 at Teamsport’s Manchester Victoria venue. She soon signed up for a Motorsport UK Girls Karting Academy taster day and quickly progressed from there, enjoying the process of improving technique and lap times.
Freya first tried outdoor karting at Three Sisters Kart School in Wigan the following year and her season culminated in becoming the first female in any age category to get to the grand final at the British Indoor Kart Championships. As the best-performing female competitor, she was awarded the Motorsport UK Girls Karting Academy scholarship for a season of Club 100 racing in 2025.
During that year Freya progressed into every A final in both the North and South Club 100 seasons and did two seasons of Inkart at Daytona Tamworth, finishing on the podium in every race and winning both championships. She was also invited to the Motorsport UK Night of Champions and 75 years of F1 celebration reception at 10 Downing Street ahead of the British Grand Prix.
Cameron Biggs, Motorsport UK Coaching and Academy Pathway Manager, added: “Freya’s journey is testament to the aims behind setting up the Motorsport UK Girls Karting Academy, proving that female drivers can be competitive in motorsport providing that the opportunities are available to nurture talented participants. We are delighted that she is helping to blaze a trail for female drivers in karting and hope that her success inspires many more girls to take up the sport through our free Girls Karting Academy taster days.”
Karting is also a great way for families to connect through sport. Current Motorsport UK Girls Karting Academy Scholarship driver Mia Gualtieri began karting when her mother Sarah was looking for a school inset day activity. “Karting is one of the last things I would’ve thought about for my girls,” admitted Sarah. “The instructors helped them quickly learn the fundamentals – racing lines, apexes, defending and qualifying – and when we were told about three options to continue the karting pathway in outdoor arrive-and-drive sessions, we went and tried them all.” Now all of the family has discovered the joys of racing and you can read about their experience and how families across the UK are discovering motorsport as a powerful way to connect, compete and create lasting memories in this month’s Revolution magazine here.
The next Motorsport UK Girls Karting Academy taster day is on 26th May – head here for event information including how to book and here for more information on the Motorsport UK Girls Karting Academy, including scholarship programmes.