New racing sensation, Atiqa to debut in FMSCI National Karting Championship

Bengaluru, Jun 7 (PTI) India's latest racing sensation, nine-year-old Atiqa Mir of Jammu and Kashmir will make her much-awaited debut in the MECO-FMSCI National Karting Championship Rotax Max 2024 this weekend at the Meco Kartopia here.

The highest-ranked female driver under 10 years as per FIA (International Automobile Federation) and the CIK (Commission Internationale de Karting) in any national championship got a feel of the competition in India in 2022, taking part in two races as a seven-year-old.

This is the first time she will compete in all five rounds of the Championship. She will turn out for Team MSport Racing in the Micro Max category (7 to 12 years).

"We have been waiting to show our mettle in the highly competitive Indian National Championship. It's a homecoming for Atiqa," said Atiqa's father, Asif Mir, India's first national karting champion and a former Formula Asia Racer.

Hailing from Kashmir, Atiqa is already a local star in the state. She now lives in Dubai where she trains with George Gibbons Motorsports. Atiqa juggles between European and UAE Karting Championships.

Atiqa started karting when she was just six years old. Her first competitive race was in 2021.

Competing in the Micro Max and Mini X30 categories, Atiqa is the reigning vice-champion in the UAE IAME National Championship, vice-champion in the Mena Cup, second Runner-up in the DAMC Cup among her various triumphs.

Atiqa is also a race winner in the UAE IAME National Karting Championship (Mini R category) and has scored multiple pole positions, fastest laps and lap records too. PTI SSC SSC UNG