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Spanish racer Laura Camps Torras won Ferrari’s heart at 16, became only the second woman ever admitted to the legendary Ferrari Driver Academy, and then—after a promising start—got unceremoniously dropped without so much as a goodbye.

EARLY YEARS

Born March 28, 2005, in Calella, Spain, Laura Camps Torras didn’t exactly grow up dreaming of racing glory—at least not at first. Her exposure to karting began when she was eight years old, thanks to her dad’s car obsession. What started as a father-daughter hobby turned serious quickly. By age 10, she was strapped into her own kart, training at a local circuit her dad had essentially taken over. And here’s where it gets good: her dad didn’t just buy her a kart and call it a day—he created an entire karting club to organize races. His reasoning? Simple. “You are going to race,” he told her. No pressure or anything.

Laura won her first karting race in the Valencian Karting Championship, and that was it. The girl from the coastal town of Calella was hooked. She spent her formative years honing her craft in karting, learning racecraft, speed, and how to hold her own in a sport that wasn’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat for girls.

OTHER INTERESTS

The research doesn’t say much about what Laura does when she’s not behind the wheel, which honestly tracks—racing at this level doesn’t leave a ton of room for hobbies. But given her start in karting was a dad-and-daughter thing, it’s safe to say family has always been part of her fuel.

EARLY SUCCESS

Laura’s karting career built momentum steadily, and by 16, she was ready for the big leagues—or at least, the program designed to get girls there. In 2021, she entered the FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars programme, a high-stakes talent search backed by the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission and the Ferrari Driver Academy. The program was designed to identify the best young female racing talent in the world and fast-track them into single-seaters.

And Laura? She won the whole damn thing.

Beating out a field of talented competitors, she was crowned the second-ever winner of the initiative in December 2021. The prize? A coveted spot in the Ferrari Driver Academy—the same program that had groomed the likes of Charles Leclerc and other F1 stars. Laura became just the second female driver ever to join the FDA, following Maya Weug, who had won the inaugural edition. It was a massive deal. Ferrari doesn’t hand out red jackets lightly.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2021: Won the FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars programme[1].
• 2021: Became the second female driver ever admitted to the Ferrari Driver Academy[2].
• 2022: Began Formula 4 testing program with Iron Lynx and the Iron Dames[3].
• 2023: Made her car racing debut in single-seaters at the Indian Racing League in Chennai, India, earning a top-5 finish at 18 years old[4].
• 2024: Returned to the Indian Racing League with Black Birds Hyderabad[5].
• 2025: Competed in the Indian Racing League and the Formula 4 Indian Championship[6].

INSPIRATIONS

Laura credits her dad as her biggest early influence—not just for buying her that first kart, but for creating an entire structure around her racing ambitions when she was still a kid. That kind of belief doesn’t go unnoticed. Beyond family, the opportunity to join Ferrari’s academy was a dream scenario for any young racer, male or female. Ferrari is Ferrari. The mystique, the legacy, the red—it all means something. For a Spanish teenager who grew up watching motorsport from the sidelines, getting that call was validation that she belonged.

REPUTATION

Laura’s reputation is one of quiet determination and adaptability. She’s not the loudest voice in the paddock, but she’s earned respect for showing up, putting in the work, and making the most of unconventional opportunities. Her debut in India—a late call-up to a series she’d never raced in—resulted in a top-5 finish, which said everything about her ability to perform under pressure. She’s also candid, which is refreshing. In interviews, she’s spoken openly about the sting of being dropped by Ferrari without explanation, calling it “sad that they didn’t say goodbye.” That kind of honesty makes her relatable and real in a sport that often rewards media-trained blandness.

Still, her path has been anything but linear. After joining the FDA in early 2022, Laura began a testing program in Formula 4 with Iron Lynx, but unlike her FDA counterpart Maya Weug—who raced a full season—Laura’s program remained limited to testing. By 2023, she was no longer part of Ferrari’s plans. The academy moved on, and Laura had to regroup. It’s a harsh reality of junior motorsport: talent doesn’t always equal opportunity, and even a Ferrari backing doesn’t guarantee a clear road forward.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

As of 2025, Laura is actively competing in the Indian Racing League and participating in the Formula 4 Indian Championship. While India isn’t the traditional European ladder most drivers climb, it’s given her crucial single-seater experience and kept her career moving. In interviews, she’s expressed hope that 2025 will lead to racing “in something good”—a tactful way of saying she’s ready for a more competitive, higher-profile seat. She’s still young, still hungry, and still proving that getting dropped by Ferrari isn’t the end of the story. If anything, it’s just made her more determined to write her own.

REFERENCES

[1] Laura Camps Torras wins second “Girls on Track” edition, joins Ferrari Driver Academy

[2] Two FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars drivers taken under the wing of the Ferrari Driver Academy

[3] Maya and Laura with Iron Dames in 2022

[4] Laura Camps makes car racing debut with top-5 in IRL

[5] Laura Camps returns to Indian Racing League

[6] Indian Racing Festival 2025 Gears Up for High-Octane Action

“Sad that they didn’t say goodbye”: Laura Camps on the FDA, the Indian Racing League and more

Meet Laura Camps: The 19YO Spaniard Gears To Race

Rising Stars Profile Vol.9 – Laura Camps Torras & Nea Vesalainen

Interview with… Laura Camps

Laura Camps Torras – Formula 1 Wiki