Bio Excerpt: Lily-May Watkins took the scenic route to single-seaters, not touching a kart until age 12 in 2019—then promptly finished fourth on her debut at Rye House despite never seeing a race track before. The Hertfordshire native spent five years grinding through UK karting, nabbing podiums and... (full bio below ↓↓)
Lily-May Watkins
Formula racer
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I am really excited to be competing in GB4 again next year with KMR Sport. Being my first year in cars the step was quite challenging, but with the team’s help I progressed immensely throughout the season. This year we’ve seen progress, but next year I believe we can fight further up the grid and hopefully challenge for the female championship.
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Lily-May Watkins is a British racing driver making her mark in the GB4 Championship with KMR Sport, proving that grit and preparation can turn karting rookies into legitimate single-seater contenders.
EARLY YEARS
Born in June 2007, Watkins grew up in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, where racing wasn’t exactly in the family blueprint. She didn’t touch a kart until 2019 when she showed up at Rye House for the first time—and despite never having been on a race track before, she finished fourth. Not bad for a debut. She started competing in one-day junior race events and quickly became a regular on the podium, proving she had the instincts to hang with drivers who’d been at it far longer.
OTHER INTERESTS
When she wasn’t on track, Watkins wasn’t just twiddling her thumbs. She’s serious about esports and spent over 100 hours on the simulator throughout 2024, working with Kokoro Performance coaches to sharpen her racecraft and prepare for the jump to cars. She’s also a director of LMW Racing Ltd, her own racing company—because apparently, managing your own motorsport career at 18 is just another Tuesday.
EARLY SUCCESS
Watkins built her karting foundation across the UK from 2019 onward, racking up solid results including third place in the Rye House championship. She also joined the Arden Young Racing Driver Academy, gaining access to elite training and simulator work that would prove crucial when she made the leap to single-seaters. By the time she signed with KMR Sport for 2025, she’d logged extensive prep time and was as ready as any karting graduate could be—even if the GB4 grid didn’t know it yet.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2019: Finished fourth in her very first karting session at Rye House, Hertfordshire, having never been on a race track before.
- 2019–2024: Competed in karting across the UK, earning podium finishes in one-day junior race events and placing third in the Rye House championship.
- 2024: Completed over 100 hours of simulator training with Kokoro Performance to prepare for single-seater racing.
- 2025: Made her GB4 Championship debut with three-time team champions KMR Sport as one of the most inexperienced drivers in the series.
- 2025: Secured multiple top-10 finishes during her rookie GB4 season, including at Oulton Park in changeable conditions.
- 2025: Finished her debut GB4 season 27th in the championship standings with 39 points.
INSPIRATIONS
No specific inspirations or role models were mentioned in available sources.
REPUTATION
Watkins entered GB4 as one of the greenest drivers the series had seen—a karting graduate with limited single-seater testing and no prior formula racing experience. But she didn’t let that define her season. By November 2025, she was reflecting proudly on the progress she’d made, and rightly so. She proved she could hold her own against more experienced competitors, scoring points and top-10 finishes in a rookie campaign that exceeded expectations. She’s known for her work ethic and her willingness to put in the hours—whether that’s on the simulator, in the gym, or debriefing with her engineers. KMR Sport clearly saw something in her worth backing twice.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
Watkins confirmed her return to the GB4 Championship for 2026, staying with KMR Sport for a second season. Now 18, she’s aiming to build on her rookie-year experience and climb the standings with the benefit of a full season’s worth of data and racecraft under her belt. The goal is clear: keep improving, keep scoring, and keep proving she belongs.
REFERENCES
Lily-May Watkins – GB4 (2025)
Lily-May Watkins – GB4 (2026)
Lily-May Watkins joins KMR Sport for GB4 Championship debut
Lily-May Watkins returns for GB4 sophomore campaign with KMR Sport
GB4: Female drivers star in changeable conditions at Oulton Park
About – Lily-May Watkins
Elite Motorsport and KMR Sport start on their 2026 GB4 line-ups
Lily-May Watkins moves up to GB4 with team champions KMR Sport
Lily looks back: “I’m so proud of the progress I’ve made this year”
GB4 Championship 2025 – Driver Database
Lily-May Sophie Watkins personal appointments
