Emily Cotty is a British-New Zealand racing driver making waves in Formula 4 with R-ace GP, proving that being one of the youngest drivers on the grid doesn’t mean you can’t battle with the best.

EARLY YEARS

Born on August 14, 2009, in Chichester, United Kingdom, Cotty holds dual British and New Zealand nationality. She cut her teeth in karting before making the leap to single-seaters—a transition that would test her mettle against drivers with far more experience in open-wheel racing. The 15-year-old showed early promise in karting, securing the Super One Series Junior Rotax title in 2024, a achievement that marked her as one to watch before she’d even strapped into an F4 car full-time.

OTHER INTERESTS

Information about Cotty’s interests outside racing isn’t publicly available, though given her age and racing schedule—juggling multiple F4 championships across continents—it’s safe to say motorsport is consuming most of her attention right now.

EARLY SUCCESS

Cotty’s first taste of Formula 4 came in 2024 when she contested a round of British F4 at the British Grand Prix weekend with Fortec Motorsports. But 2025 marked her real debut season, and she didn’t waste time making an impression. Joining R-ace GP for the F4 Middle East Championship in early 2025, she secured her maiden F4 podium at the opening round in Abu Dhabi—a breakthrough result that announced her arrival in single-seaters. The British-New Zealander left Abu Dhabi fourth in the championship standings with 28 points, establishing herself as a genuine contender despite minimal prior experience. She then carried that momentum into Italian F4, where she became one of the season’s most impressive performers, consistently running toward the top ten and demonstrating racecraft that belied her rookie status.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2024: Won Super One Series Junior Rotax title[1].
• 2024: Made Formula 4 debut at British Grand Prix weekend with Fortec Motorsports[2].
• 2025: Secured maiden F4 podium at UAE Formula 4 Championship opener in Abu Dhabi[3].
• 2025: Achieved first top-ten qualifying position in Italian F4 at Barcelona[4].
• 2025: Won Italian F4 Women’s Trophy title by 51 points over Payton Westcott[5].
• 2025: Won European F4 Women’s Trophy title[6].
• 2025: Competed in inaugural FIA Formula 4 World Cup in Macau, narrowly missing top-ten finish[7].

INSPIRATIONS

Cotty works with former F2 driver Calan Williams as her coach, benefiting from his experience navigating the junior formula ladder. In interviews, she’s credited R-ace GP’s support structure with helping her development during what has been a steep learning curve in her first full season of circuit racing.

REPUTATION

At just 15 years old and one of the youngest drivers on the Italian F4 grid, Cotty has quickly earned respect for her racecraft and consistency. “We are improving every weekend,” she said mid-season, and the results backed that up. Despite coming into 2025 with minimal single-seater experience, she demonstrated strong midfield battling ability and the potential to compete at the sharp end. Her breakthrough podium in Abu Dhabi showed she could capitalize when opportunities arose, while her Women’s Trophy titles in both Italian and European F4 proved she was the class of the field among female competitors. Industry observers have noted her quick adaptation from karting to cars, with her ability to compete against more experienced drivers marking her as a talent worth tracking.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Cotty has committed to continuing with R-ace GP in 2026, contesting both the UAE Formula 4 Championship and a second season in Italian F4. The continuity with the French team should allow her to build on the foundation laid in 2025, with the goal of moving from consistent midfield runner to regular podium contender. Having already secured Women’s Trophy titles in her debut season, the next logical step is challenging for overall championship positions and race wins against the full field.

REFERENCES

[1] Fortec Motorsports adds Emily Cotty for British Grand Prix F4 weekend
[2] Fortec Motorsports adds Emily Cotty for British Grand Prix F4 weekend
[3] Emily Cotty secures maiden F4 podium with superb UAE4 opener at Abu Dhabi
[4] Emily Cotty shines with first Top-10 qualifying and best finish in Italian F4 at Barcelona
[5] Italian F4: Emily Cotty wins Women’s Trophy title
[6] Emily Cotty returns to R-Ace GP for Italian F4, UAE4 2026 campaigns
[7] Emily Cotty just misses out on top ten finish in chaotic first FIA Formula 4 World Cup in Macau
Emily Cotty – Wikipedia
Emily Cotty: “We are improving every weekend”
Cotty Emily – Italian F4 Championship
Emily Cotty Interview | Rotax ‘O’ Plate, Whilton Mill