Angélina Proenca is a French Formula 4 driver from Perpignan who’s been making waves in a championship stacked with 30 competitors—and she’s doing it at just 16 years old.

EARLY YEARS

Born on June 6, 2009, in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales, Occitanie, Angélina began her motorsport journey at age seven when she joined the FFSA school at the Grand Circuit du Roussillon in Rivesaltes. Starting in karting gave her the foundation she needed to develop racecraft early, and by her early teens, she was already turning heads on the French karting scene.

At 14, she competed in her first season of the French Junior Karting Championship in 2024, where she immediately made an impression. During a round at Le Mans, Proenca claimed pole position—a statement result that announced her as a serious contender among France’s rising karting talents. She was also part of Alpine’s Rac(H)er programme, an initiative designed to support and develop young female drivers in motorsport. The program included fellow karting hopefuls like Lisa Billard, and its goal was to address the gender gap in racing from the grassroots level up.

OTHER INTERESTS

No information available.

EARLY SUCCESS

Proenca’s move from karting to single-seaters came at 15, when she tested with the FFSA Academy in Formula 4 on the Circuit Bugatti at Le Mans. The transition from karts to wings-and-slicks is notoriously difficult, but she committed fully to the challenge, entering the 2025 French F4 Championship as one of six female drivers on a historic 30-car grid—the largest in the series’ history.

Her rookie F4 season showed flashes of promise mixed with the inevitable growing pains. In the season opener at Nogaro, she gained nine positions in a safety-car-filled race, showing strong racecraft and aggression when opportunities appeared. She regularly battled inside the top 15, demonstrating that she had the pace to compete. At Spa, she recovered to finish P15, and at Magny-Cours, observers noted she was “making great strides” as the season progressed. Her performances at Lédenon later in the year further underscored her increasing confidence and improved pace.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Proenca faced several DNFs and stretches of bad luck that prevented her from consistently translating speed into results. Still, her ability to show genuine race pace—often running wheel-to-wheel with more experienced drivers—suggested the raw talent was there. She just needed time and clean weekends to let it shine.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2023: Selected as part of Alpine’s Rac(H)er women’s programme alongside other promising female talents[1].
• 2024: Earned pole position at Le Mans in the French Junior Karting Championship at age 14[2].
• 2025: Competed in the French F4 Championship as one of six female drivers on a record 30-car grid[3].
• 2025: Gained nine positions in her F4 season opener at Nogaro[4].
• 2025: Regularly battled in the top 15 throughout her rookie F4 season, including P15 finishes at Spa and strong showings at Lédenon[5].

INSPIRATIONS

No information available.

REPUTATION

Proenca is seen as a driver with genuine speed who’s still finding consistency in the cutthroat world of Formula 4. Observers and commentators have noted her ability to show strong pace and her willingness to fight for positions, even when luck hasn’t been on her side. As someone who came through Alpine’s Rac(H)er programme, she carries the weight of expectation that comes with being part of a high-profile diversity initiative—but she’s handling it with maturity beyond her years.

Her reputation is still being written. She’s not the driver bringing home trophies yet, but she’s the driver you notice gaining positions lap by lap, the one who’s unafraid to send it when there’s a gap. In a field of 30, that kind of grit matters.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Proenca participated in the selection process for “Girls on Track Rising Stars,” organized by the Ferrari Academy under the supervision of the FIA. The program offers one selected driver the opportunity to join the Ferrari Academy—a potentially career-defining opportunity for any young female racer. While her immediate plans beyond the 2025 French F4 season aren’t publicly detailed, her involvement in high-level talent identification programs like this signals serious ambition. She’s clearly aiming for more than just participation—she wants to climb.

REFERENCES

[1] Alpine to support Floersch and six female karters in 2023 – The Race
[2] Angelina Proenca on pole at Le Mans – Kartcom
[3] 2025 French F4 Championship – Wikipedia
[4] French F4: Angélina Proenca gains nine positions in safety-car filled season opener – Racers Behind the Helmet
[5] Lisa Billard secures first points in French F4, leads female trophy entries at Spa – Racers Behind the Helmet
Angelina Proenca – Pilote F4 (Official Website)
Angélina Proenca – Driver Database
Women in the spotlight in motorsport – Kartcom
Rintaro Sato wins with panache at Lédenon in the French F4 Championship – Kartcom
F4 Academy: 30 drivers seeking success at Magny-Cours – FFSA Academy
French F4: 2025 season guide – Feeder Series