A YOUNG girl from Orford is chasing her dream of becoming a Formula 1 driver after having started learning only two months ago.

Arabella Franciamore, six, first showed an interest in motorsport after her family booked her a place on a Land Rover experience for her fifth birthday.

The instructor commented on how quickly she picked it up and, after watching a go-karting race that was on at the time, Arabella’s interest in motorsport grew.

“She has always been into speed and has shown incredible road awareness when a passenger in the car,” said Paulo Franciamore, Arabella’s dad.

After being gifted a pedal go-kart by her neighbours, Arabella stepped foot in a real go-kart for the first time in February.

The six-year-old, who attends Beaumont Primary School, learned how to go-kart with Global Karting League, an electric karting league founded by former Ferrari engineer, Rob Smedley.

After only a few sessions, Arabella managed to gain more confidence and decrease her lap times and was signed off to take part in the Global Karting League’s Rookie Championship.

She competed in the Rookie Championship on Sunday in Shenington, Oxfordshire.

Arabella, who says she wants to be a Formular 1 driver when she grows up, qualified in second place after achieving a personal best lap time.

For the first half of the final race, Arabella maintained second place – but due to a wet circuit, the six-year-old spun out on the fifth lap and went to the back of the grid.

Despite this, Arabella managed to finish in fifth place and is already looking ahead to round two of the Rookie Championship, which will take place in Shenington in May.

The aspiring racing driver has a GoFundMe to help her chase her dream which you can donate to here.