Kiara Henni

Kiara Henni is a young German racing driver who made her single-seater debut in 2025 with the F4 Central European Zone Championship, competing with her family-run team Henni-Performance while overcoming a rare genetic speech condition that hasn’t slowed her ambition one bit.

EARLY YEARS

Hailing from Wernau, Germany, Henni didn’t grow up dreaming of the podium—she grew up craving speed. “I wasn’t a motorsport fan at first, but I was always fascinated by speed,” she admits. It all started innocently enough with a small pedal kart she’d race around the yard, which evolved into a proper karting career just a few years ago. Despite starting later than many of her competitors, she showed enough potential to catch the attention of experienced mentor Laurents Hörr, a European Le Mans Series LMP3 champion who recognized raw talent when he saw it.

What makes her story even more remarkable is that she’s doing all of this while managing a rare genetic condition affecting the FOXP2 gene—often referred to as the “speech gene”—which has resulted in a speech impediment. But if you think that’s held her back, you haven’t been paying attention. When you’re strapped into a Formula 4 car hitting speeds that would terrify most people, a speech impediment is just another obstacle to overtake.

OTHER INTERESTS

Information about Henni’s interests outside of motorsport isn’t publicly available, though given her late start in karting and rapid progression to formula racing, it’s safe to say she’s been fairly focused on getting up to speed—literally.

EARLY SUCCESS

Henni’s karting career, though brief, showed promise. In 2020, she earned second place in the Süddeutscher ADAC Kart Cup in the X30 Junior class, proving she could compete at a high level. She was also runner-up in the X30 Junior class of the championship, which gave her the foundation—and the confidence—to make the massive leap to single-seater racing.

In 2024, she made her single-seater debut racing the Tatuus F4-T421 at Carbonia, getting her first taste of formula racing with the family team that would become her launching pad. It was a learning year, the kind where you figure out which end is up and try not to bin it in the barriers too often.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2020: Second place in Süddeutscher ADAC Kart Cup – X30 Junior class.
• 2024: Made single-seater debut with Tatuus F4-T421 at Carbonia.
• 2025: Completed full season in F4 Central European Zone Championship with family team Henni-Performance.
• 2025: Finished third in F4 CEZ Women’s Trophy classification.
• 2025: Achieved best results of two 12th-place finishes at Salzburgring.

INSPIRATIONS

While specific racing heroes aren’t mentioned in available sources, Henni is clearly inspired by the challenge itself. Her mentor, Laurents Hörr, has been instrumental in guiding her development, providing the kind of experienced perspective that only a championship-winning driver can offer. The support of her father and the entire Henni-Performance family operation also speaks to where her drive comes from—this is a family affair, built on belief and hard work rather than deep pockets and corporate backing.

REPUTATION

Henni is building a reputation as a determined rookie who shows up, gets the job done, and improves with every session. At her F4 CEZ debut at Spielberg, she completed all three races, gaining valuable experience and steadily improving in both pace and confidence throughout the weekend—exactly what you want to see from a first-timer. Racing for the small, family-run Henni-Performance team, she’s not walking into a well-oiled machine with years of data and unlimited resources. She’s learning on the fly, which makes her progress all the more impressive.

Among the four female drivers who competed in the 2025 F4 CEZ season—alongside Mathilda Paatz, Michalina Sabaj, and Nicole Havrda—Henni held her own, finishing third in the Women’s Trophy standings. She’s recognized as one of the “female talents to watch,” and rightfully so. There’s something quietly fierce about someone who refuses to let a genetic condition, a late start, or limited resources define what she can achieve.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Henni returned to the F4 CEZ Championship for the 2025 season with Henni-Performance, marking her second year in F4 competition. Her stated goal isn’t about silverware—at least not yet. “My main goal is to gain as much experience as possible and continue improving with each race,” she says, with the kind of level-headed focus that suggests she’s in this for the long game. For her, success isn’t measured solely in trophies; it’s about personal growth. “The transition from karting to formula racing has been my biggest achievement,” she reflects. “Competing at this level is already a dream come true.”

That’s the thing about Henni—she’s not here to make noise or grab headlines. She’s here to learn, to improve, and to prove that with the right mindset and support, you can carve out a place in one of the most competitive and unforgiving environments in motorsport. And honestly? That might be the most badass approach of all.

REFERENCES

[1] Kiara Henni gains experience on F4 CEZ debut in Spielberg – Racers Behind The Helmet
[2] Kiara Henni joins the 2025 F4 CEZ, chasing her racing dreams – F4 CEZ Championship
[3] Kiara Henni & Mathilda Paatz to contest 2025 F4 Central European Championship – Racers Behind The Helmet
[4] F4 CEZ: 2025 season guide – Feeder Series
[5] Three female talents to watch in 2025 F4 CEZ Championship – F4 CEZ Championship
[6] Meisterehrung 2020 – ADAC Presse
[7] Four female drivers leave their mark in 2025 season – F4 CEZ Championship
[8] Champions honoured at the prize-giving ceremony in Prague – F4 CEZ Championship