Rachel Robertson

Rachel Robertson is a Scottish racing driver who rocketed from rental karting at fifteen to the F1 Academy grid in less than four years—proof that late bloomers can still burn rubber with the best of them.

EARLY YEARS

Born on July 28, 2007, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Rachel Robertson grew up without any motorsport background or family connections to racing[1]. At fourteen, she stumbled into an indoor rental karting venue and was instantly hooked—so hooked, in fact, that track officials took notice of her natural talent and encouraged her father to buy her a kart and let her race competitively[2]. It was the kind of origin story that sounds too tidy to be true, except it was. Just a couple of months after her first karting experience, though, the track closed, and her motorsport adventure hit an abrupt wall[3]. But Robertson wasn’t deterred. By 2022, at age fifteen, she’d found her way back and began competitive karting in the British Karting Championship, determined to make up for lost time[4].

Standing 177 cm tall, Robertson brought a raw physicality and competitive edge to karting that set her apart from the field[5]. She wasn’t just fast—she was fearless, attacking corners with the kind of aggression that made people stop and watch.

OTHER INTERESTS

When she’s not behind the wheel, Robertson is a motorsport engineering student at Wiltshire College & University Centre, learning the technical side of the machines she races[6]. She’s not content to just drive them—she wants to understand every gear, every adjustment, every tweak that can shave off a tenth of a second. Outside the garage and the classroom, she plays tennis and enjoys arts and crafts, a surprisingly zen counterbalance to the adrenaline-fueled chaos of racing[7]. It’s the kind of hobby mix that suggests someone who knows how to switch gears mentally, too.

EARLY SUCCESS

Robertson’s first full season in the British Kart Championship came in 2023, where she competed in the Rotax Senior category with Guy Cunnington Racing[8]. She held her own against drivers with years more experience, finishing 26th overall with 454 points[9]. In 2024, she returned to the championship and became the only female competitor in her class, racking up multiple top-ten finishes and proving she belonged[10].

In 2025, Robertson made the leap to car racing, joining the newly formed Radical Racing Rebels team in the Finecut Radical Cup UK Championship[11]. At Donington Park, in her car racing debut, she secured three top-five finishes and challenged for podium positions throughout the weekend[12]. By her second race at Brands Hatch, she’d earned her first podium with a third-place finish[13]. At Snetterton, she clinched another podium, this time battling her way past competitors and showing tactical maturity beyond her years[14]. By mid-season, she was third in the championship standings[15]. At Silverstone, she led row five in a newly rebuilt chassis after a testing crash—a testament to both her resilience and her team’s determination[16].

Her rapid ascent caught the attention of serious players. Robertson became the first recipient of “Gabby’s Grant,” a £15,000 award from the Eric Low Foundation funded by an event held by Match of the Day presenter Gabby Logan and her husband Kenny[17]. The grant funded two Formula 4 test drives and a simulator session with Hitech TGR, which opened doors she hadn’t expected to walk through so soon[18]. In August 2025, she traveled to Italy’s Cremona track for road trials that could potentially lead to further opportunities in Formula 4 and beyond[19].

By November 2025, Robertson was selected for a one-off appearance in the F1 Academy season finale in Las Vegas with Hitech TGR[20]. At eighteen years old, she made a stunning debut on one of the sport’s most high-profile stages, scoring her first points and proving she could compete at the next level[21].

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2022: Began competitive karting in the British Kart Championship at age fifteen[22].
• 2024: Competed in the British Kart Championship Rotax Senior category with Guy Cunnington Racing, finishing 26th overall with 454 points[23].
• 2024: Only female competitor in her class in the British Kart Championship, achieving multiple top-ten finishes[24].
• 2025: Made car racing debut at Donington Park in the Finecut Radical Cup UK Championship, securing three top-five finishes[25].
• 2025: Earned first podium finish (third place) at Brands Hatch in the Radical Cup UK[26].
• 2025: Secured another podium finish at Snetterton, climbing to third in the championship standings[27].
• 2025: First recipient of “Gabby’s Grant” (£15,000) from the Eric Low Foundation[28].
• 2025: Made F1 Academy debut at the Las Vegas season finale with Hitech TGR, scoring her first points[29].
• 2025: Competed in the Aramco F4 Saudi Arabian Championship[30].
• 2026: Signed for a full-time F1 Academy campaign with PUMA operated by Hitech[31].

INSPIRATIONS

No specific inspirations or role models were mentioned in the available research.

REPUTATION

Robertson has built a reputation as one of the most exciting young talents in British motorsport, despite having started racing only in the second half of 2022[32]. Her rapid progression from rental karts to the F1 Academy in under four years has turned heads across the paddock. She’s known for her fierce skill, speed, and unshakeable determination—qualities that have earned her respect from competitors and mentors alike[33]. The Eric Low Foundation connected her with mentors who recognized her potential early on, and her selection for the PUMA-backed F1 Academy seat with Hitech TGR cemented her status as a driver to watch[34]. Track officials, teams, and sponsors have consistently praised her on- and off-track contributions, noting her maturity and work ethic alongside her raw talent[35].

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

For 2026, Robertson has secured a full-time seat in the F1 Academy with PUMA operated by Hitech TGR[36]. She’s aiming not just to compete, but to establish herself as a regular contender on the grid after her impressive debut in Las Vegas[37]. The goal is clear: keep climbing, keep learning, and keep proving that starting late doesn’t mean finishing behind.

REFERENCES

Rachel Robertson Racing – Official Website
Motorsport engineering student Rachel is on track for a glittering career in racing
The Radical recruit who’s risen from indoor rental karting to an SR3 in two years
Rachel Robertson (racing driver) – Wikipedia
About Rachel – Rachel Robertson Racing
Student makes stunning F1 Academy debut in Las Vegas
Rachel Robertson – Alliance Racing
Rachel Robertson – Driver Database
PUMA select Rachel Robertson for 2026 F1 ACADEMY season
17-Year-Old Rising Star Rachel Robertson Selected for 2025 Radical Racing Rebels Team
Rachel Robertson impresses on Finecut Radical Cup UK Championship debut
Rachel Robertson Race Report Round 1 Radical Cup UK
WERA Alliance Racing Academy Mid Season Report
Fine Cut Radical Cup UK – Round 3 Snetterton Race Report
Fine Cut Radical Cup UK – Round 5 Preview
Radical Cup UK – Silverstone Race Report
Wiltshire College student makes F1 Academy debut in Las Vegas
Motorsport Engineering student on track to win Formula 1 Academy place
Rachel driven to compete in F4 and upwards – The Edinburgh Reporter
Motorsport student Rachel Robertson to race in F1 Academy Las Vegas finale
2025 F1 Academy season – Wikipedia
Woman Spotlight Wednesday: Rachel Robertson
Aramco F4 Saudi Arabian Championship 2025 standings
Rachel Robertson selected for 2026 F1 ACADEMY season
Rachel Robertson steps up to 2026 grid with PUMA – F1 Academy
Rachel Robertson secures F1 Academy seat with Puma at Hitech