Allica Bank is proud to announce its sponsorship of 16-year-old racing driver Daniella Sutton, becoming her Official Banking Partner as she aspires to become the first female Formula 1 champion.

Daniella, who currently races in the BRSCC Fiesta Junior Championship and has ambitions to step into FIA Formula 4, developed a need for speed on her sixth birthday when she was taken go-karting by her father. Ten years later, she is making waves and leading by example in a sport where female representation remains limited.

Allica, who will sponsor Daniella until the end of 2026, is a fintech challenger bank that supports thousands of established businesses across the UK and was named the second-fastest growing company in Europe earlier this year. It says the partnership reflects its commitment to supporting those who take bold steps forward – whether on the track or in business. Daniella’s story, like many of the established small business owners Allica works with, is one of perseverance, potential, and the power of getting in on the action.

Daniella has already this year been named in the world-exclusive BRDC Rising Stars Programme, which has previously named Sir Lewis Hamilton and Ross Gunn among its alumni.

Her journey is one of resilience and perseverance – Daniella was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis at the age of 12, a condition that causes joint pain, swelling and stiffness. At one point, Daniella was questioning whether or not she’d be able to continue racing, but she has learned to manage the condition, including with medication.

Motorsport has also been notoriously difficult for female drivers to break through, despite purportedly being a mixed gender sport. Notably, it’s been more than 50 years since a female driver, Lela Lombardi, competed in an F1 race.

But these hurdles haven’t put Daniella off. If anything, they’ve made her more determined.

“Racing is my passion, and I’ve loved it since I was little. But it is also challenging,” said Daniella Sutton. “You have to stay completely on top of your game while trying to manage so many different things. Sometimes there are elements that are totally out of your control, like technical issues or the weather, so you have to have a lot of resilience.” 

Daniella is supported by her truck-driver dad, Dan Sutton, and step-mum, Rachel Sutton, who works as a receptionist. Alongside giving Daniella the racing bug in the first place, Dan and Rachel are a critical part of Daniella’s story, driving her to races, giving advice, and helping find sponsors to fund their mission.

“Having the right team around you makes all the difference,” added Daniella. “I know that I can rely on my family, but that’s not all. I have a great group of coaches, mechanics, teammates and friends around me that help me to overcome those hurdles.”

Allica’s sponsorship will enable Daniella to continue developing both on and off the track, helping her navigate the demands of building a career in elite sport. Dan and Rachel also opened an Allica Bank business current account to manage Daniella’s sponsorship finances and expenses.

Speaking about the sponsorship, Daniella said: “I’m so excited to have Allica in my corner - they believe in what I’m trying to do, and they’re helping me get there. I know, like me, they believe in the importance of data and technology to improve performance but never losing sight of the value of human instinct and teamwork. It’s fantastic to have a partner like them on board.”

“Daniella represents the kind of challenger mindset we admire at Allica,” said Richard Davies, CEO of Allica Bank. “It’s been really exciting to see her race and watch her progress this season. She’s ambitious, focused, and not afraid to keep trying even when things get tough. That’s exactly the spirit we see in the established businesses we support every day, and we’re proud to be part of her journey.”

Allica Bank looks forward to supporting Daniella as she continues to break barriers and inspire the next generation of racers.