Alisha Palmowski is an 18-year-old British racing driver from Glossop, Derbyshire, who has charged through motorsport’s ranks with remarkable speed—from corporate karting to becoming GB4 Vice Champion and earning a coveted spot in the Red Bull Racing Pepe Jeans Academy.

EARLY YEARS

Growing up in Glossop, Derbyshire, Palmowski’s racing story began in the most unassuming way possible: a corporate karting session in 2015. While most kids were testing the waters with one-off track days, she dove headfirst into the deep end, spending her first two years competing in local indoor corporate championships at venues like Daytona Manchester and Daytona Tamworth. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was racing—and she was hooked.

By age 11, the corporate kart days were behind her. Palmowski stepped up to national-level competition with her own kart in the Daniel Ricciardo Series juniors, marking the moment her racing interest became a full-blown career trajectory. Details about her family, educational background, and the financial mechanics of those early years remain private, but the timeline tells its own story: this was a young driver who wasted no time moving up.

OTHER INTERESTS

Off the track, Palmowski admits to “dodgy karaoke performances”—a self-deprecating nod to her willingness to have fun outside the high-pressure racing world. She’s also an ambassador for Support Dogs charity, lending her growing platform to a cause beyond motorsport. Beyond that, she keeps her hobbies and personal interests largely out of the spotlight, preferring to let her lap times do the talking.

EARLY SUCCESS

Palmowski’s karting career quickly validated her commitment. In 2018, she claimed the BirelART Series UK Junior Rookie Championship, her first major title. She followed that up with back-to-back vice championships in the Daniel Ricciardo Series juniors in 2020 and 2021, proving she could consistently perform at the front of the field. Her progression wasn’t just steady—it was relentless.

In 2020, she got her first taste of a race car when she tested a Ginetta Junior G40 at Blyton Park. The transition from karts to “slicks and wings” could have been daunting, but Palmowski adapted quickly, feeling comfortable behind the wheel and gaining pace with every lap. That test set the stage for her next leap: the Ginetta Junior Scholarship.

In 2021, she finished in the top eight of the scholarship but narrowly missed the shootout. Undeterred, she came back in 2021/2022 and won the whole thing, beating more than 60 entrants. That victory handed her a fully funded season with Elite Motorsport—a game-changing opportunity that launched her into the Ginetta Junior Championship proper.

The 2022 season saw her claim the Ginetta Junior Winter Series Vice Championship, and by 2023, she was a consistent podium threat, finishing fifth overall in the Ginetta Junior Championship with 10 podium finishes. Across both seasons, she racked up 15 podiums and proved she belonged among the UK’s most promising young drivers.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2018: BirelART Series UK Junior Rookie Champion[3][6].
• 2020: Named by Downforce as one of “10 women that could change motorsport history”[5].
• 2020, 2021: Daniel Ricciardo Series Junior Vice Champion[1][3].
• 2021/2022: Ginetta Junior Scholarship Champion, defeating 60+ entrants[2][3][4].
• 2022: Ginetta Junior Winter Series Vice Champion[3][4].
• 2023: Ginetta Junior Championship 5th place overall with 10 podiums; BWRDC Racing Goodwin Trophy P2, Racing VIP Adrenaline Sports and Sports Racer P1[5][6].
• 2024: GB4 Championship Vice Champion with 3 wins, 11 podiums (most in the field), 2 pole positions, 1 fastest lap, and 16 top-5 finishes across 21 races[1][4][5].
• 2024: BRDC Rising Star[1][5][6].
• 2024: Selected for Autosport Young Driver Award Final 10[4][5].
• 2024: BWRDC Gold Star[5].
• 2024: F1 Academy Wild Card debut at Lusail, Qatar—qualified 6th and 4th, finished P5 in Race 1[1].
• 2024: Participated in Formula E Women’s Test[1][2].

INSPIRATIONS

Palmowski hasn’t publicly named specific drivers or mentors who shaped her path, but her career choices speak volumes. She’s drawn to circuits with history and character—Silverstone, in particular, holds a special place in her heart. “Not many people get that chance so I’m just grateful that I’ve got the opportunity,” she said in December 2024. “It’s such a special place to be at. I love every lap I drive around Silverstone.”[2]

REPUTATION

Within the motorsport community, Palmowski is regarded as an exciting prospect and “one to watch.” Her ability to adapt quickly to new machinery—from karts to single-seaters—has earned respect, and her consistency on track has made her a fixture on podiums. Media coverage has been consistently positive, highlighting her “remarkable run” through the junior ranks and noting she’s “brimming with drive to succeed.”[1][2]

She’s also been positioned as a role model for young women entering motorsport. In interviews, she’s expressed a desire to influence and inspire other girls to pursue racing, understanding the weight of visibility in a male-dominated field. Being named one of Downforce’s “10 women that could change motorsport history” in 2020—well before her GB4 success—marked her as someone the industry had its eye on early.

Her management, Infinity Sports Management, has helped position her career strategically, and her partnerships reflect growing commercial interest. With 81 races, 5 pole positions, 2 fastest laps, 28 wins (including karting), and 56 podiums to her name, the numbers back up the hype.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Following her standout 2024 GB4 season, Palmowski landed a spot in the Red Bull Racing Pepe Jeans Academy with Campos Racing—a significant step up in support and opportunity. She’s slated to compete in the F1 Academy at the Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2025, with her ultimate goal being straightforward: “to win the title.”[1][4]

The backing from Red Bull Racing signals serious investment in her potential, and the F1 Academy platform offers global visibility and a direct pipeline toward higher-tier single-seater racing. At 18, she’s still young enough to dream big and experienced enough to make those dreams plausible. If her trajectory continues, the corporate karting kid from Glossop might just make history.

References:

F1 Las Vegas GP – Alisha Palmowski Driver Profile
Silverstone – Alisha Palmowski on Young Female Talent
Alisha Palmowski Official Website – Profile
Alisha Palmowski Official Website
ARDS – Alisha Palmowski Racing CV
GB4 Championship – Alisha Palmowski Driver Page
F1 Academy – Introducing Alisha Palmowski