Vidushi Gaur/ New Delhi

On most school mornings, children wake up reluctantly to the sound of alarms. But for 10-year-old Atiqa Mir, the day starts differently, not with a bell, but with the loud rumble of kart engines and the crisp scent of petrol in the air. While her classmates practice handwriting and multiplication tables, Atiqa is already dressed in her racing suit, helmet under her arm, eyes filled with fierce focus. She is not just a child with a hobby, she is one of India’s youngest and most promising racers.

Atiqa’s fascination with speed didn’t appear suddenly; it quietly grew with her since she was five. During a family holiday, her father took her to a recreational karting track. Most children drove cautiously, giggled with excitement, or stopped midway. But Atiqa gripped the steering wheel as if she’d held it her entire life. She didn’t hesitate around corners; she accelerated. She didn’t get distracted; she calculated. That day, coaches watching from a distance exchanged surprised glances. They had seen passion before, but rarely in someone so little.

Atiqa Mir, getting ready for her race

Her parents thought it was a one-time attraction, but Atiqa kept asking questions, “How do brakes work?”, “Why do tyres grip more on curves?” “How can I go faster without losing control?” They realised they were not dealing with a child who liked racing, they were raising a racer.

From that moment on, weekends changed. Playgrounds and birthday parties took a backseat. Instead, karting tracks, practice cones and timing sheets filled her days. Racing demanded discipline and Atiqa embraced it wholeheartedly. Before school, she trained in the gym to improve core strength. After school, she studied racing lines, braking techniques, and cornering strategies. While most children her age struggle to sit still, Atiqa could spend hours analysing her own race videos, pointing out errors only professionals could notice.

Motorsports has always been a male-dominated world. The tracks are loud, the competition brutal and the expectations heavy. When Atiqa first entered competitive karting, many older boys laughed quietly, assuming she would give up after a few laps. Instead, she stunned them, overtaking fearlessly, cornering perfectly and fighting until the very last second. She didn’t just race to prove herself; she raced because she belonged there. Her victories became headlines. Her determination became a symbol. Suddenly, young girls in racing suits began appearing at tracks, telling coaches they wanted to be like Atiqa.

Atiqa Mir with her father

Every racer has a team, and for Atiqa, her family became her unwavering support. Her mother packed food and managed school routines around races. Her father travelled with her for competitions, taking notes during practice sessions. Even her school teachers encouraged her, helping her balance academics without slowing down her dreams. “I drive the kart, but my family drives my confidence”, Atiqa shared.

With every competition, Atiqa grows not only as a racer but as a symbol of courage. She dreams of one day representing India on the world’s biggest racing platforms, Formula categories, endurance races, world karting championships, wherever speed and skill are tested.

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She doesn’t hide her ambition. When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, she doesn’t hesitate for even a second- “The fastest.”