Lily-May Watkins will remain with KMR Sport as she prepares to contest her second season in the GB4 Championship in 2026. This decision marks a continuation of a promising partnership that began during her rookie campaign in 2025.
Having made her first step into car racing last year, Watkins embraced the challenge of adapting to single-seaters. As the season progressed, she steadily improved her pace and gained valuable experience against more seasoned competitors.
Building experience in a challenging rookie year
Watkins entered the 2025 season with limited car racing experience compared to many of her rivals. Nevertheless, she demonstrated resilience and consistency throughout the campaign. As a result, she secured regular points finishes while continuing to refine her racecraft.
One of her standout performances came at Oulton Park, where she achieved a top-10 finish despite extremely difficult conditions. This result underlined her ability to adapt quickly and perform under pressure.
Strong foundations in karting and esports
Before stepping into GB4 machinery, Watkins developed her racing skills through karting and Esports. She began competitive racing in 2019 and quickly built a solid foundation.
Her karting career included a third-place finish in the Rye House Lando Cup in 2020, followed by a semi-final appearance in the 2023 British Indoor Karting Championship. These achievements helped prepare her for the transition to car racing, even though the jump to single-seaters presented new challenges.
Pre-season preparation already underway
Now equipped with a full season of car racing experience, Watkins has already begun preparing for the 2026 campaign. She has returned to action with KMR Sport by starting an extensive pre-season testing programme.
This early preparation allows her to build momentum and further strengthen her understanding of the car. Consequently, she enters the new season with increased confidence and clearer performance targets.
Watkins has made her ambitions for the upcoming season clear, focusing on continued improvement and stronger results:
“I am really excited to be competing in GB4 again next year with KMR Sport. Being my first year in cars the step was quite challenging, but with the team’s help I progressed immensely throughout the season. This year we’ve seen progress, but next year I believe we can fight further up the grid and hopefully challenge for the female championship.”
KMR Sport Team Principal Kevin Mills also expressed strong confidence in Watkins’ potential as she enters her second year:
“Lily made excellent progress with us in 2025, and we’re very pleased that we’re going to continue working together next year. Now she has a full year’s experience, we’re looking to help her take the next step up in her performance levels and challenge for the top female driver prize.
“We’ve seen enough potential from her this year to know she’s capable of fighting further up the order, and Tom [Mills] and the rest of the team will push her hard as we look to unlock further breakthroughs in performance.”
This endorsement highlights the team’s belief in her ability to take another step forward.
Eyes on the next step
As Watkins prepares for her second GB4 season, she carries both experience and momentum into 2026. With continued support from KMR Sport and a clear focus on progression, she aims to move further up the grid and establish herself as a consistent front-runner.
Ultimately, her journey reflects a steady climb through the ranks, and the upcoming season presents a crucial opportunity to convert potential into results.
