Julia Angelard

Julia Angelard is a rising Polish karting talent who’s turning heads on the international circuit with backing from some of motorsport’s most prestigious academies—and she’s only thirteen years old.

EARLY YEARS

Born February 22, 2012, in Warsaw, Poland, Julia didn’t exactly stumble into karting by accident. Her older brother Maks was already tearing up tracks when she was still in pigtails, and little Julia spent her childhood trackside, watching him test and race[1]. By age four, she couldn’t take being a spectator anymore and got behind the wheel herself[2]. What started as occasional races alongside her brother quickly became a full-blown obsession.

Growing up in Piaseczno, just outside Warsaw, Julia’s early racing years were spent in the Rotax Max Challenge Poland from 2017 to 2022, competing in the MicroMax and MiniMax categories[3]. These weren’t just casual weekend outings—she was building the foundation of what would become a seriously impressive karting resume. Seven years into her racing career, and she’s already racked up more seat time than most teenagers have spent doing homework.

OTHER INTERESTS

When she’s not battling for position on track, Julia channels her energy into acrobatics and artistic performances[4]. It’s not just a quirky hobby—the physical demands of acrobatics likely contribute to the core strength, flexibility, and body control that make her competitive in a kart. She’s also got a soft spot for Franciacorta Karting Track in Italy, calling it one of her favorites[5]. “I’m glad to be back there again and racing with others,” she said ahead of a 2025 race there. “Until now, I’ve usually ridden there when testing, so it will be a nice change.”

EARLY SUCCESS

Julia’s transition from national Polish karting to the international stage happened in 2023 when she moved up to the OK-N Junior and later OK Junior categories[6]. By 2024, she’d caught the attention of elite talent programs—starting with an invitation to the IRON DAMES Young Talent Selection Program in July at Franciacorta[7]. “One of the most exciting things that happened to me this year was being invited to the IRON DAMES Young Talent Selection Program, which I took part in,” she reflected in a late 2024 interview[8].

She competed in ROK Cup Poland and began building her reputation in Italy’s highly competitive ROK Cup series. Her results started stacking up: in the 2025 Champions of the Future series, she grabbed a pole position[9], and later in the ROK Cup Italy fourth round, she qualified fourth in her group and maintained consistent top-ten performances throughout the weekend[10]. By mid-2025, she was racing internationally with Jastrzębski Racing and had joined the PZM junior national karting team[11].

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2024: Selected for IRON DAMES Young Talent Selection Program at Franciacorta, Italy[12].
• 2025: Achieved pole position in the Champions of the Future series[13].
• 2025: Made her debut on tracks outside Europe, competing internationally in OK Junior category[14].
• 2025: Competed in ROK Cup Italy, consistently finishing in top positions including a ninth-place finish in round five[15].
• 2025: Member of PZM junior national karting team[16].
• 2025: Competed in FIA Karting World Cup with Ward Racing[17].
• 2026: Became the first Polish woman in history to receive karting support from Richard Mille, joining the Richard Mille Young Talent Academy[18].
• 2026: Joined ORLEN Motorsport Academy, a joint initiative between PKN ORLEN and the Polish Automobile and Motorcycle Federation[19].
• 2026: Selected for the More Than Equal program, which aims to develop the first female Formula 1 World Champion[20].

INSPIRATIONS

Julia’s biggest inspiration sits at the family dinner table. “I have an older brother, Maks, who started karting before me,” she explained. “I spent a lot of time watching him test and race”[21]. That sibling rivalry-turned-partnership laid the groundwork for her racing career, giving her a front-row seat to what it takes to compete at a high level before she ever turned a wheel in anger.

REPUTATION

At just thirteen, Julia’s already being talked about as “one of the most promising young talents in international karting”[22]. She’s managed by Minardi Management, races for Birel ART, and has secured backing from three major programs simultaneously: the Richard Mille Young Talent Academy, ORLEN Motorsport Academy, and More Than Equal[23]. That’s not luck—that’s talent meeting preparation meeting opportunity. Her racing style is scrappy and determined; she’s the type who fights hard even on difficult weekends, like her demanding outing at Lonato in mid-2025 where she battled through a packed field[24].

What sets her apart isn’t just speed—it’s her comprehensive approach. She’s part of programs that emphasize physical fitness, psychological preparation, and long-term development potential[25]. The More Than Equal program, in particular, uses specialized algorithms to analyze athletic performance alongside comprehensive candidate assessments[26]. Translation: they’re not just looking for fast kids; they’re hunting for future champions, and Julia made the cut.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Julia’s 2026 season is nothing short of insane. She’ll compete in seven different racing series and cups on the international stage[27], racing against the best competitors from around the world while representing Birel ART Racing. She’s moved up from OK-N Junior to the more competitive OK Junior category[28], which means faster karts, fiercer competition, and steeper learning curves.

The long game? She’s now part of the More Than Equal program—a groundbreaking initiative specifically designed to find and prepare the first female Formula 1 World Champion[29]. It’s athlete-centered, age-appropriate, and mirrors the long-term development models that have successfully produced champions in other sports. Julia’s just at the beginning of what could be a very long road to the top, but she’s got the backing, the talent, and—perhaps most importantly—the work ethic to make it happen. Her first race with Ward Racing in the FIA Karting World Cup showed she’s ready for the big stage: “I’m delighted that my first race with Ward Racing is in the FIA Karting World Cup. A strong field, fierce competition”[30].

With Richard Mille, ORLEN, and More Than Equal all investing in her future, Julia Angelard isn’t just racing karts—she’s building a career. And if the trajectory holds, we’ll be hearing her name for years to come.

REFERENCES

[1] Interview with Julia Angelard – Minardi Management
[2] Julia Angelard joins ORLEN Motorsport Academy for 2026 season
[3] Julia Angelard Starts the Champions of the Future Academy Season
[4] Julia Angelard – Minardi Management Driver Profile
[5] Julia Angelard on her way to the Franciacorta track
[6] Julia Angelard Faces a Difficult Start to the New Season
[7] Iron Dames Young Talents Announces Successful Applicants
[8] Interview with Julia Angelard – Minardi Management
[9] An Exciting Series with 14 Different Winners So Far
[10] Julia Angelard with a good result in the fourth round of the Italian ROK
[11] The Future is Faster: Meet the Upcoming Stars in Karting
[12] Iron Dames Young Talents Announces Successful Applicants
[13] An Exciting Series with 14 Different Winners So Far
[14] Julia Angelard with a debut on tracks outside Europe
[15] ROK Cup Italy, round 5 – Race report
[16] Julia Angelard ready for karting competitions in 2025
[17] Julia Angelard on her way to the FIA Karting World Cup
[18] Julia Angelard Joins Richard Mille Young Talent Academy
[19] Julia Angelard joins ORLEN Motorsport Academy for 2026 season
[20] Julia Angelard Among the Participants of the More Than Equal Program
[21] Interview with Julia Angelard – Minardi Management
[22] The Future is Faster: Meet the Upcoming Stars in Karting
[23] Julia Angelard among the participants of the More Than Equal program
[24] Sammalisto, Bucci, and Bergonzini on the podium in Monza, Angelard fights hard in Lonato
[25] Julia Angelard Among the Participants of the More Than Equal Program
[26] Julia Angelard Among the Participants of the More Than Equal Program
[27] Julia Angelard Begins Intense 2026 Season
[28] Julia Angelard Faces a Difficult Start to the New Season
[29] Julia Angelard Among the Participants of the More Than Equal Program
[30] Julia Angelard on her way to the FIA Karting World Cup