Born in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Atiqa Mir relocated to Dubai at a very young age, where she found her interest in racing. Mentored and encouraged by her father, Asif Nazir Mir a former national karting champion of India Atiqa graduated from casual electric karting to professional racing, establishing herself as a key player in international karting competitions within no time.
Storming Through the Field at Al Ain Raceway
Atiqa demonstrated her dazzling talent at the RMC Invitational karting championship contested at Al Ain Raceway in Al Ain, UAE. Following a promising qualifying session where she missed pole position by merely one-tenth of a second, she encountered further hardships. Bidding from the outside row for the heats, she came fourth, while a pre-final crash relegated her back to eighth for Sunday’s final.
An Assertive and Daring Drive
In spite of the setbacks, Atiqa put up an unforgettable performance at the final. The 10-year-old Akcel GP driver passed five opponents to achieve a richly deserved podium finish in third position. Her determination and tactical driving won the admiration of fans and experts alike, which makes her one of the most promising young drivers in international karting.
F1 Academy Support and Recent Successes
Atiqa becomes the first Indian to be provided with financial and technical assistance from Formula 1 through its F1 Academy DYD program, reflecting her increasing stature in the sport. Her podium finish at the UAE continues her recent string of excellent performances, after finishing fourth at the Champions of the Future Academy (COFTA) in Slovakia and a win at the DAMC series last week.
Reflections on a Challenging Weekend
“I wish I did not have the crash in the pre-final that set me back eighth. Racing so far back, I knew I had to be on it in the first two laps. I gained five spots by Lap 2, but the winner had already broken away. I wanted to win, but settled for third place,” Atiqa said of her weekend race performance.
Father’s Appreciation for Positivity and Adapatability
Her father, Asif Nazir Mir, was proud of Atiqa’s performance and appreciated her learning curve and ability to adapt. “Atiqa’s had a tough weekend but dealt with it in the right spirit and positivity. She keeps changing classes nearly every weekend, adapting to tracks, karts, tyres, and teams. She is performing a brilliant job, and this experience is a crucial part of her long-term development,” he stated.
Atiqa Mir’s podium finish in the UAE not only solidifies her ascendant position in karting but also promises an action-packed future for the young Indian driver in motorsports.
