Fast, Not Furious

Ten-year-old Atiqa Mir is taking the karting world by storm

- IRAM ARA IBRAHIM

Atiqa Mir has two loves-fast cars and biryani. While she tries to keep her love for the latter somewhat in control, she can't stop talking about her passion for motorsports. A riot on the racing track, this 10-year-old, originally from Kashmir, became the first woman to win the Karting Rotax Challenge International Trophy race this year.

Winning a championship is not new news for Atiqa. She is the highestranked female driver globally under the 10-year-old category across any FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) or CIK (Commission Internationale de Karting) championship in the world.

Atiqa started racing at the age of six after her parents moved from Mumbai to Dubai. Her father, Asif Mir, is a former racing champion and was India's first National Karting Champion in the year 2000. He has had a fruitful career in motorsports. His achievements include competing in the Formula Asia and the Barber Dodge Pro Series in the USA, establishing him as a prominent figure in the racing world.