(June 13, 2025) On a rainy day at the Steel Ring karting track in Trinec, Czech Republic, 10-year-old Atiqa Mir from India raced through the wet and slippery course with focus and skill. She was competing in the Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy, one of the biggest karting events in the world, against top young drivers from different countries. Despite the tough weather and a few penalties, Atiqa stayed calm and drove smart. When the race ended, she finished in ninth place—becoming the first Indian, and the first Asian, to ever secure a top-10 finish in this event. “It was an amazing weekend,” she said later. “I learnt so much driving with the best drivers in the world.”
At 10 years old, Dubai-based Atiqa Mir is already competing (and excelling) on international karting circuits, breaking new ground for India in motorsport.
Atiqa Mir
Early Life in Kashmir and Love for Speed
Atiqa’s path to that rainy race in Europe started far from the track—in the peaceful valleys of Kashmir, where she spent her early years. She was born into a family that loved racing. Her father, Asif Nazir Mir, was a champion driver himself. He became India’s first national karting champion in 2000 and went on to race in events like Formula Asia and the Barber Dodge Pro Series in the U.S.
At home, Atiqa was surrounded by her dad’s trophies and stories from the racetrack. That world fascinated her. “My dad was India’s first national karting champion, and that really inspired me to start karting as well because I loved cars since… I don’t know… since I was born!” she said in an interview. As a toddler, Atiqa didn’t ask for dolls—she asked for toy cars. Her favorite was Lightning McQueen, the racecar from the animated movie Cars. “She would only ask for cars, especially Lightning McQueen, who was her hero,” her father recalled.
Atiqa’s love for racing quickly grew into something serious. Her parents encouraged her interest by letting her drive battery-powered toy cars in parks and malls. When she was five, she got a chance to try a small electric kart at a mall in Dubai during a family trip—and she was hooked right away.
Seeing how excited and confident she was, her father, Asif, gave her a challenge on an indoor karting track: complete a lap in under 59.1 seconds. To his surprise, Atiqa met the goal. That moment made Asif realize his daughter had real talent. “One thing led to another, and the journey started,” he said.
A New Home in Dubai and Racing Beginnings
When Atiqa was about five or six, her family moved from Mumbai to Dubai—a change that opened many doors for her racing dreams. Dubai had some of the best karting tracks and competitions, perfect for a young racer like her. Soon after moving, Atiqa joined the UAE’s National Karting Championship in the Bambino class, which is meant for very young beginners.
Starting out, things weren’t easy. Atiqa was about 10–15 kg heavier than others in her category, which made a big difference in karting, where every kilogram affects speed. But she didn’t let that stop her. She followed a strict routine and lost 8 kg in just five months. It was her first big lesson in how much hard work racing required. By the time she was seven, Atiqa was a regular on Dubai’s tracks—wearing a racing suit that looked a little too big, but driving with skill well beyond her age.
Atiqa’s hard work soon began to show results. She started winning local karting races and quickly became known in the UAE racing scene. When she was just eight years old, she became the vice-champion in the Mini R category of the UAE IAME Series. It was a big deal—no girl under 10 had ever placed that high in any national karting championship run by the FIA or CIK-FIA.
By the age of nine, Atiqa was racing in Europe and even landing podium finishes. One of her proudest moments happened at the famous Le Mans Karting Circuit in France. There, during the Rotax International Trophy, she became the first female racer to win a race at that track, beating boys and girls from all over the world.“Any race win feels good, but Le Mans felt better because I did it against the best drivers in the world,” Atiqa said.
Rigorous Training and Family Support
Atiqa Mir’s success isn’t just about talent—it’s also about hard work and strong family support. She studies at Jumeira Public School in Dubai, where her teachers and classmates cheer her on. Managing school and racing in different countries isn’t easy, but Atiqa handles it with energy and excitement.
Most weekdays, after school, she heads to the karting track to practice. Her father coaches her closely, watching every lap and giving her tips. “I practice every day and he is my mentor,” Atiqa says. They also sit down together to review her driving and look at race data. Atiqa takes notes to see how she can improve for the next race.
Fitness is a big part of her routine too. Though she’s only ten, she trains like a professional athlete. “He also helps me do my physical training,” Atiqa says about her dad. “I usually enjoy running more than strength training, but it has to be a mix of both, is what my father tells me. We enjoy working out together a lot.” Her mother, Shazia Mir, is just as involved. She travels with Atiqa to races around the world—in Spain, Germany, Italy, France, and the UK. “My husband and I make this support system for Atiqa so she is always performing at her best,” she explains.
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Breaking Records and Gaining Recognition
By the time Atiqa turned ten, her shelf was already full of trophies and medals. She became the first Indian girl to win an FIA-approved international karting race when she was just six. She was also the only Asian chosen for the Iron Dames Young Talent program in Italy—a special initiative that supports the best young female racers from around the world.
In many races, Atiqa was ranked as the fastest girl under 10 on the track, both in India and internationally. “I don’t really care about it [milestones and records]. Racing brings me joy and I just care about doing my best, even if I can’t beat the lap record,” she says.
Such has been her talent that people around the world are noticing her impressive journey. She is mentored by Narain Karthikeyan, India’s first Formula 1 driver, who believes she has a bright future in racing. In early 2025, Atiqa got a huge boost when F1 Academy—a special racing program for young girls backed by Formula One—selected her for its driver development program. She became the first Indian and first Asian girl to be chosen for this honor. The program, called “Discover Your Drive,” picked nine young female racers from around the world, and Atiqa was one of the youngest on the list.
Soon after, she joined the AKCEL GP Racing Academy in the UAE, becoming the youngest Indian ever to be part of this professional motorsport training program. AKCEL GP competes in Formula 4 and other junior racing series. The academy will help train Atiqa and 14 other young drivers through advanced karting and prepare them for formula car racing.
When Atiqa joined the academy in June 2025, she was thrilled. “Racing is everything to me. It’s where I feel strong, fast, and free,” she said with a big smile. She called the opportunity “a dream come true” and said she wants to inspire other girls like her. “I want to show young girls like me from Dubai and India that we can compete at the highest levels,” she said.
Her biggest goal? Formula 1. “One day, I hope to race in Formula 1, and I’m ready to work hard to get there.” And given how much effort she’s already put in since she was a little girl, it’s clear she truly means it.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Even though she’s only ten, Atiqa Mir has already become a role model for young girls in India, the Middle East, and beyond. In a sport mostly filled with boys and men, she’s proving that girls can be just as fast and fearless. “What she is doing is groundbreaking for India and for women,” says her father proudly. “There aren’t too many sports where boys and girls compete on the same stage, and Atiqa is showing that girls can outperform boys too.”
Being a girl in karting isn’t always easy. Atiqa has faced extra pressure and even some unkindness from other racers who, as her dad puts it, “don’t like to be beaten by a girl.” Off the track, Atiqa is just like any other kid. She loves biryani almost as much as she loves racing.
As Atiqa Mir races ahead in her journey, she carries the hopes and dreams of many. People from India, the UAE, and even faraway countries have sent messages saying they’ve put their daughters into karting after hearing her story. Her message to other kids is simple yet powerful, “Believe in yourself. If you believe you can win, you will. Find what you love, “dream it, follow it, work hard on it, never give up,” and most importantly, “don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it.”
With every race, every win, and every record she breaks, Atiqa shows that age and gender don’t matter when it comes to chasing dreams. And she’s just getting started. With her eyes on Formula 1 and her heart fully in the game, Atiqa Mir’s story is only beginning—and it’s already changing the face of Indian motorsport.
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