A rising motorsport star is putting East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) in pole position after pledging to raise funds and awareness throughout her 2026 campaign.
Racing driver Lydia Walmsley lives just a short walk from The Treehouse, in Ipswich, and wants to show her support while competing in the Porsche Sprint Challenge.
The 24-year-old will carry the charity’s logo on her car and is planning a series of fundraising activities, including a skydive, supported by her growing social media following and sponsors.
Lydia’s 2026 car features a bold light blue and purple livery with orange accents – colours that closely mirror those associated with EACH.
“I drive past The Treehouse every day, so when it came to choosing a charity to support, my first thought was EACH,” she said.
“When I think about the work it does, it puts everything in perspective, and I can’t think of a better cause to support than a children’s hospice.
“Anything I can do to raise funds and awareness and support its extraordinary work will be a pleasure. It’ll be time well spent and while I don’t have personal experience of using a hospice, it’s still something I feel strongly about.
“I also like the idea of supporting a local charity, right here in the heart of my community. That appeals more than being involved with a national one, where there’s a chance you might be overlooked or forgotten.
“You never know when you’re going to need a charity like this, which is why it’s so vitally important and a cause I hold close to my heart.”
Competing in the Porsche Sprint Challenge RS category for the first time, Lydia is racing a powerful 500-horsepower Porsche GT4 RS and has already impressed, securing three top-ten finishes during the second race weekend of the season at Oulton Park, in Cheshire.
Her motorsport journey began when she was seven. Growing up in a family immersed in racing, she progressed through karting before climbing the ladder and establishing herself as a highly talented female driver.
Now racing for Clean Racing, she continues to compete against drivers with significantly larger budgets, relying heavily on the support of her sponsors.
“The speeds we reach are crazy, and I love the fact I’ve always represented a smaller team with a limited budget,” she said.
“It makes all our achievements feel more rewarding, and that sense of motivation spurs me on and drives my passion. I like proving people wrong.
“I love the fact it’s a sport where men and women can compete against each other, and that it’s such a level playing field.
“It means a lot that my family have always been so heavily involved in my racing. We’re a team, and we’ve always achieved things together.”
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Lydia hopes to build on her encouraging start while helping shine a spotlight on the vital support EACH provides to children and families across East Anglia.
“I’d like top-five or top-six finishes but, considering it’s a new car, it’s been a solid start and a good platform to build on,” she said.
“It’s been a real baptism of fire, but I like it that way. I’ve just got to throw myself into it and learn as I go along.
“It’s been a fantastic experience already, and I consider myself so lucky to do this – especially if I can use my racing to help shine a light on EACH. That would be a real honour and privilege.”
The first three rounds of the Porsche Sprint Challenge took place at Donington Park in April, with rounds seven, eight and nine scheduled for 8th and 9th August at Knockhill, in Fife, Scotland.
