Meet 7-year-old Arabella, living a life on fast lane

Dubai: At an age when most kids are still figuring out how their toys work, Arabella Franciamore is already chasing a dream far beyond the playground. The seven-year-old from Orford is making waves in the world of karting, with her sights firmly set on one day becoming a Formula One driver.

While such ambitions might seem distant for someone so young, Arabella's rapid rise through the junior karting ranks is turning heads and earning her growing recognition.

Her love for motorsport began early. A Land Rover experience gifted for her fifth birthday first sparked her interest, and a pedal-powered go-kart from a neighbour the following year sealed the deal. "I started karting at six when my neighbours gave me a pedal go-kart, and I quickly decided I wanted to go faster," she shared on the Four Garden Motorsport Academy website.

"I really enjoy the speed of karting and the challenge of trying different ways to overtake. My dad has always watched motorsports, so it was easy to convince him to let me give it a go," she added.

Arabella's performances in recent races, along with a growing social media presence, have not gone unnoticed. She was recently photographed with Ferdi Porsche — grandson of Ferdinand Porsche and founder of FAT International — and former Formula One engineer Rob Smedley. The exposure led to a sponsorship offer from Rebelleo Motorsports, making Arabella the youngest driver under the newly formed Four Garden Motorsport Academy.

Currently competing in the FAT Pro Championship, Arabella sits impressively in third place. A top-seven finish would earn her a spot in the prestigious World Finals at Willow Springs International Raceway in California, where she’ll compete for the grand prize: a one-year professional management contract.

Her journey into competitive karting began just last year. "Arabella’s progress has been astonishing," said her father, Paolo, in an interview with the Warrington Guardian. “She’s picked up racing techniques incredibly fast, especially considering how little formal training she’s had. Karting has become her obsession—whether she’s behind the wheel, on the simulator, or watching racing videos, she’s always focused on improving.”

“It’s a bit nerve-wracking seeing her go at such speeds,” he admitted. “But each lap is a learning experience—she’s getting faster and, more importantly, safer.”

The support from Four Garden Motorsport Academy and the FAT Karting League has been invaluable to her development, Paolo added.

As for Arabella, her inspiration comes from the best in the business. “I really look up to drivers like Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton because they’re not afraid to challenge others and always push the limits. It’s fun to watch them race. I also follow Cristiano Ronaldo—he’s always training hard to get better, and that motivates me.”