She is a former showjumper who swapped horses for horsepower.

Since starting motorsport four years ago, Ella Lloyd is already making her mark – and ruffling some feathers.

“The males don’t like to get overtaken by females – you can tell that from their driving,” the 20-year-old said. “They’re a bit more aggressive, but I give it back to them and they stop.

“I want to beat the boys. I want to beat the girls. I want to be first.”

Pontypridd-born Lloyd wants to take on everyone when it comes to the mixed-field F4 British Championship but she also has her eyes on success in the F1 Academy.

The Formula 4-level women’s-only competition is designed to give young women in motorsport a direct pathway into the higher levels of single-seater racing.

Lloyd currently sits third in the F1 Academy standings – the best of any British driver – with only one race to go.

She has achieved five podium finishes, including a race victory in Jeddah and is hoping to finish her first full season in the Academy in style, at Las Vegas in November.

“I’m feeling pretty confident. It’s a new track for myself, the team and the whole grid, so it’s going to be a massive learning curve going into the race weekend,” Lloyd said.