Emily Cotty: Defending Her Women’s Trophy Crown in Italian Formula 4
From Women’s Trophy champion in 2025 to title leader in 2026, take a closer look at Emily Cotty’s journey and her progress through the opening rounds of the 2026 Italian Formula 4 season.
All eyes are on 16-year-old Emily Cotty in Italian Formula 4 in 2026 to repeat the level of success she achieved in her 2025 rookie campaign with R-ace GP. Last year, she dominated the Women’s Trophy to secure the title at Misano, ending the weekend as Women’s Trophy champion with a 51 point gap to her closest rival Payton Westcott.
Emily Cotty’s Journey to Italian Formula 4
Cotty’s route to Formula 4 has been anything but conventional. The British-New Zealand driver switched from horse racing to motorsport in 2022 and, despite starting later than many of her rivals, has quickly established herself as one of the most promising young talents on the grid.
After beginning in the British Kart Championship and Super One Series, Cotty claimed the 2024 Junior Rotax title before making her Formula 4 debut later that year with Phynsis by Argenti in British F4. She then gained valuable international experience in the UAE, racing with AGI Sport and later R-ace GP, where she scored her first F4 points in the 2025 F4 Middle East Championship.
The 2025 season proved to be a breakthrough. Cotty dominated the Italian F4 Women’s Trophy, securing the title with rounds to spare, and added the E4 Women’s Trophy crown to her growing list of achievements. She also celebrated her maiden F4 podium in the UAE4 Series at Yas Marina.
Competing in Italian F4 with R-ace GP once again in 2026, Cotty continues to build momentum, earning Championship points and establishing herself as one of the leading female drivers in junior single-seater racing.
The 2026 Italian F4 season is now well underway. Let’s take a look at how Cotty’s campaign is shaping up after the first three rounds at Misano, Vallelunga and Monza.
Round 1: Misano (May 10th)
At the opening round at Misano, Cotty emerged as the highest-placed of the five female drivers competing in the series this year. Although it was not the ideal start to her campaign, finishes of P15, P22 and P23 across the races she contested were enough to place her P28 in the Championship standings after Round 1. A positive to take from Misano was that she earned her first Championship point of the season.
Round 2: Vallelunga (May 24th)
At Vallelunga, Cotty took another significant step towards retaining her Women’s Trophy title. Battling through a highly competitive grid of more than 40 cars, the Briton secured back-to-back top-20 finishes, claiming the Female Trophy win in Race 1 with a P19 finish before being promoted from P18 to P16 in Race 2 after post-race penalties. Although a late puncture in the final race denied her a stronger result after an impressive recovery drive, Cotty ended Round 2 leading the Women’s Trophy standings with 168 points.
Round 3: Monza (June 21st)
At Monza, Cotty faced her toughest weekend of the season to date. A P27 finish in Race 2 saw her finish third among the Women’s Trophy contenders. However, her hopes of a stronger result in Race 3 were ended by an opening-lap collision involving Roland Kuklane and Rafaela Ferreira, forcing her retirement. Despite disappointment at the Temple of Speed, Cotty has retained her lead in the Women’s Trophy standings after Round 3, extending her tally to 216 points and maintaining control of the title race.
Up Next: Mugello (July 26th)
In the overall Drivers’ Championship standings, Cotty occupies P41 - two points less than the closest contender for her Women’s Trophy crown, Emma Felbermayr.
The Briton now faces pressure from Felbermayr in second place of the Women’s Trophy standings, after a hat-trick of wins last time out at Monza sees the Austrian begin to build momentum. Cotty can remain comfortable, for now, with a healthy lead of 76 points as Italian F4 heads to Mugello for Round 4 at the end of July.
Anything can happen this year in Italian F4 with the level of female talent competing in the Championship reaching new heights. Can Cotty retain her crown, or will she be dethroned by Felbermayr or teammate Westcott?
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