‘Atiqa’s rise by the karting ranks has unfolded on grids the place she is usually one of many solely women competing in opposition to a bunch of “bullying” boys, and he or she would not draw back from bullying them again.’
IMAGE: Atiqa Mir, who’s supported by Components One Academy, created historical past in June by changing into the primary Indian to safe a top-10 end on the Rotax Euro Trophy. {Photograph}: Atiqa Mir/Instagram
In a sport the place no girl has raced in Components 1 since 1992, 11-year-old karting prodigy Atiqa Mir understands each the size of the problem and the load of historical past whereas chasing the top of motorsport.
Competing in one of the vital male-dominated sporting arenas on the planet, the younger Indian racer believes in breaking stereotypes quite than being intimidated by them.
In an interview with PTI after a profitable worldwide karting season, Atiqa spoke at size about her blossoming motorsport journey and the challenges she gleefully accepts alongside the best way.
“I feel it is due to all of the stereotypes and stuff and in addition it being a blended gender sport and being male dominated, that is why many females should not in Components 1,” Atiqa instructed PTI Movies.
“And I feel my confidence and perception in myself goes to take me there someday,” she mentioned.
Atiqa’s rise by the karting ranks has unfolded on grids the place she is usually one of many solely women competing in opposition to a bunch of “bullying” boys, and he or she would not draw back from bullying them again.
“Nicely, mainly, I am one of many solely few women on the monitor and all of the boys are there and clearly they do not like getting overwhelmed by a woman. So that they clearly bully me lots on the monitor, however then I at all times bully them again,” she mentioned.
IMAGE: Atiqa Mir has persistently damaged limitations this yr, breaking file after file in karting. {Photograph}: Atiqa Mir/Instagram
The behaviour, she defined, goes past arduous racing.
“Nicely, generally they activate me. Generally they brake examine me, which is regular for everybody, I assume these days, as a result of there isn’t any penalty in karting for a brake examine. However generally in addition they hit me, however I feel I discovered how you can cope with it over time.”
Somewhat than permitting such incidents to derail her focus, {the teenager} says she has discovered to make use of them for her progress as a racing driver.
“What goes by my thoughts is that I simply attempt to be taught from what I may from the session and the remainder robotically finds its place,” she mentioned.
Motorsport runs in Atiqa’s household. Her father Asif Mir is a former nationwide karting champion and Components Asia vice-champion, however she insists her profession was not formed by obligation or expectation.
“…I did not begin due to my dad. And there was no such factor having a dream to race in Components One,” she mentioned, underlining that her journey started organically.
Her introduction to Components 1 itself got here comparatively late.
“I did not actually learn about Components One and stuff till like 2021. And I feel the primary race I really watched on TV was the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021,” she recalled the epic final lap title showdown between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
“And I bear in mind seeing that overtake (from Verstappen). And it was so good. And it is nonetheless in my thoughts. So I actually get motivated by that.”
IMAGE: Competing in Europe for the primary time this season, Atiqa completed inside the highest 9 within the RMC Euro Trophy, one of many hardest karting championships on the calendar. {Photograph}: Atiqa Mir/Instagram
That second cemented her admiration for Verstappen, now one among her two function fashions alongside her father.
“So mainly, I actually like his aggression and skill to drive with the automotive even when it is not like prime one tempo,” Atiqa mentioned.
“He is gotten a great deal of poles and he is mainly been an excellent like individual on this season when the automotive wasn’t good.”
On monitor, her personal performances are steadily strengthening her case.
Competing in Europe for the primary time this season, Atiqa completed inside the highest 9 within the RMC Euro Trophy, one of many hardest karting championships on the calendar.
“Because it was my first season competing in Europe, I feel it is gone fairly nicely,” she mentioned.
“I did the highest 9 end within the moist, which I used to be type of studying how you can drive on,” she mentioned, noting that extremely aggressive nature of racing in Europe uncovered her to new tracks, climates and driving types.
Atiqa has additionally acquired the coveted backing from the F1 Academy, changing into the primary Indian to be supported by the programme.
Requested whether or not motorsport is particularly robust for girls, Atiqa acknowledged the early struggles.
“For the primary one and a half years, actually, it’s as a result of nobody is aware of you they usually simply anticipate you to be a type of random women driving for enjoyable,” she mentioned.
“However now it is getting higher due to my velocity, and my dedication to win,” she summed up.
