Klara Kowalczyk

Klara Kowalczyk is a 14-year-old Polish karting prodigy who’s gunning for Formula One—and if she makes it, she’ll be the first woman to race in F1 since 1976 and the first Polish driver since Robert Kubica[2][6].

EARLY YEARS

Born in 2011, Kowalczyk discovered racing the way every great origin story should begin: completely by accident[4][5]. Her parents had a habit of showing her “interesting things,” and one day that meant visiting her dad’s friend who’d built an electric go-kart[5]. She sat in it. She drove it with her dad. And that was it—instant love[5].

She was barely six years old when she started karting in the summer of 2017, cutting her teeth on indoor tracks before graduating to outdoor circuits where she raced against boys without flinching[1][2][3][5]. Her early obsession wasn’t just fueled by adrenaline; she’d already fallen hard for the movie Rush, the dramatized rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda[3]. Most kids that age were watching cartoons. Klara was studying F1 legends.

Recognizing her talent early, her parents connected her with Natalia Kowalska’s academy in Poland, where she found her first coach[3]. But Kowalczyk wasn’t interested in staying local. She made the bold decision to focus her racing career in Italy while still a child, understanding that’s where the path to Formula One really begins[3].

OTHER INTERESTS

Outside of racing, the research is thin—but what we do know is that Kowalczyk spends time on simulators, honing her craft digitally when she’s not on track[5]. At the end of the 2022 season, she trained at Fernando Alonso’s center in Oviedo, Spain, an experience that speaks volumes about the level she’s operating at[2]. Beyond that, her life seems laser-focused on one thing: speed.

EARLY SUCCESS

Klara’s competitive karting career took off when she joined the Fernando Alonso Kart factory team in 2021, competing in the 60 Mini category[2][3][4]. By 2022, she was already making noise, finishing as Poland II Vice-Champion and earning third place in the Polish Karting Championships in her age category[1][2].

In 2023, she leveled up to the OK Junior category and was handpicked by the FIA Women’s Commission for the FIA Karting Academy Trophy—a prestigious selection that named her one of the most promising 12-to-14-year-old female drivers in the world[1][2]. That same year, she became the highest-ranked female in both the FIA European Championship Junior and World Championship Junior categories[1]. She also switched to CRG Racing Team’s factory squad, competing in the WSK Super Master Series and WSK Final Cup[2][3][4].

By 2023 and 2024, Kowalczyk had moved to Ricky Flynn Motorsport, the British team known for developing F1 talents like Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri[2][5][7]. She continued racing in the OK Junior ranks across WSK events, the European Championship, and the World Championship[1][2].

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2021: Competed in 32° Andrea Margutti Trophy (60 Mini) with Kidix/Alonso Kart[4].
• 2022: Poland II Vice-Champion[1].
• 2022: 3rd place, Polish Karting Championships (age category)[1][2].
• 2022: Trained at Fernando Alonso’s center in Oviedo, Spain[2].
• 2023: Selected by FIA Women’s Commission for FIA Karting Academy Trophy (one girl worldwide aged 12-14)[1][2].
• 2023: Highest-ranked female, FIA European Championship Junior and World Championship Junior[1].
• 2023: 12th place, FIA Karting Academy Trophy (39 points)[4].
• 2024: P6 (highest female), Karting Sprint Junior Final, FIA Motorsport Games, Aspar Circuit (advanced 3 positions in 18 laps, clean race, representing Poland among 35 nations)[1].
• 2024: Received SH award (prestigious national recognition, appeared on national TV)[5].
• Unspecified year: Rookie of the Year accolades[7].

INSPIRATIONS

Klara credits her parents for introducing her to motorsports, but her racing idols are James Hunt and Niki Lauda—the dueling legends from Rush[3][5]. “Since I was a kid I loved the movie Rush,” she said in a 2023 interview. “When I tried karting I just loved the sport and I realized I love to drive and love the speed”[3].

Her first coach, Natalia Kowalska, played a pivotal role early on, guiding her from Poland to Italy and connecting her with top-tier teams like Kart Republic and the Fernando Alonso factory squad[3]. Training with Alonso himself at his Spanish facility was another formative experience[2].

REPUTATION

In the karting world, Kowalczyk is regarded as a legitimate prodigy with serious pace[2][5][7]. She’s consistently the fastest female in her series and has earned her place on teams that have launched F1 careers[2][5][7]. Her composure under pressure stood out at the 2024 FIA Motorsport Games, where she avoided penalties and delivered a clean, calculated drive to finish sixth—the top female finisher[1].

Media coverage has been overwhelmingly positive, positioning her as Poland’s next great motorsport hope and a genuine contender to break F1’s decades-long drought of female drivers[1][2][5][6]. She represents Poland through the PZM federation and has backing from sponsors including the YES Foundation[1]. Her story has been featured on racing sites, Polish national radio, and YouTube motorsport channels[1][2][5][6].

“FIA Motorsport Games is also a great opportunity to get to know other competitors—both privately and in terms of their abilities and driving technique on the track,” she said, showing maturity beyond her years[1].

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Klara Kowalczyk has one goal, and she’s not shy about it: Formula One[2][3][5]. “I decided to focus on racing in Italy very early to follow my dream on racing in F1,” she stated plainly in 2023[3].

She’s currently competing with Ricky Flynn Motorsport in the OK Junior category across WSK events, the European Championship, and the World Championship[1][2][5][7]. Track testing in single-seaters is on the horizon, though she’s taking her time. “I’m still very young, I’m still 13, so I still have a lot of time,” she said in late 2024, acknowledging that the jump from karts to cars is coming soon[5].

If she keeps progressing at this rate, the motorsport world better get ready. Klara Kowalczyk isn’t just racing—she’s rewriting what’s possible.

References:

Racers Behind the Helmet – Klara Kowalczyk FIA Motorsport Games Feature
Downforce Radio UK – Klara Kowalczyk Interview (April 22, 2024)
Paddock Sorority – Interview with Klara Kowalczyk (October 15, 2023)
DriverDB – Klara Kowalczyk Career Statistics
Mobil 1 The Grid – Klara Kowalczyk Feature (November 28, 2024)
Polskie Radio – Klara Kowalczyk Profile
YouTube Short – Klara Kowalczyk Rookie Achievement