McLaren confirm rising star for rookie test outing

McLaren has confirmed that its F1 Academy driver Ella Lloyd will drive for the outfit in next month's Formula E rookie test, held at the Tempelhof Circuit in Berlin.  It will mark the F1 Academy race winner's second appearance in FE machinery, having represented McLaren in the all-female test in Madrid back in November last year.  Lloyd impressed on that occasion and will now be handed a full day of running in the German capital in McLaren's Gen3 Evo, the same car she drove in Spain.  The test, as always, will take place on the Monday after the Berlin E-Prix (14 July), which could see Nissan's Oliver Rowland crowned as world champion.  As well as representing McLaren in F1A, Lloyd is also part of the McLaren driver development programme and is competing in her second season of British F4.  "I’m really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the GEN3 Evo car again with the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team," said the 19-year-old.  "I learnt so much at the Women’s Test in Madrid and I’m excited to have another opportunity to get out on track and put all the preparation I’ve been doing in the simulator into practice." Back in Madrid, Lloyd impressed McLaren by the level of her feedback and how quickly she adjusted to FE machinery. Since then, she has supported the Woking-based team in the simulator alongside her racing programmes.  Despite having only entered professional racing in 2022, Lloyd has caught a lot of attention. She claimed her first F1A victory in Jeddah earlier this year, and was a consistent podium finisher in British F4 last year.  "Ella is a very exciting young talent, and I’m thrilled that she will be back in the GEN3 Evo at the Berlin Rookie Test," said Ian James, McLaren FE team principal.  "Having worked alongside her over the course of this season, Ella’s professionalism and eagerness to learn left an impression on the whole team. I’m sure that she will continue to build on her knowledge and experience when we head out to Berlin." McLaren is yet to confirm who else it will field in Berlin; however, the expectation is that it will be F2 championship leader and its official FE reserve Alex Dunne.