Atiqa Mir Stuns at FIA Karting World Cup Debut
11-year-old Indian racing prodigy Atiqa Mir makes a stunning debut at the FIA Karting World Cup with a top-five heat finish.
Indian racing prodigy Atiqa Mir has sent a strong message to the global motorsport community with a series of brilliant performances during her debut at the FIA Karting World Cup in Viterbo, Italy. The 11-year-old sensation proved her mettle against a massive field of 117 drivers in the junior category, establishing herself as the top-performing female driver of the event.
A Dream Start with Kart Republic
This marquee event marked Atiqa's first major assignment since joining the prestigious Kart Republic Factory Race Team. The team is owned by the legendary Dino Chiesa, a man renowned for nurturing some of the greatest talents in racing history, including seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton.
Atiqa began the week in blistering form, showcasing raw speed that caught the attention of the paddock. She dominated the early stages by clocking the fastest time in practice session three and followed it up with a strong P2 finish in the final practice session.
Overcoming Qualifying Hurdles
Despite her practice pace, the qualifying round proved to be a challenge. Atiqa found herself bogged down by heavy traffic on the track, which prevented her from replicating her previous speeds. Forced to overtake during her flying lap, she finished 12th in her group and 48th overall.
"One small mistake in qualifying, and I had to pay a big price for it. In such a large grid of 117 drivers, it is important to qualify in front, but due to slow-moving drivers, I couldn't get a lap in and had to overtake on my flying lap," Atiqa reflected on the experience.
Despite the setback, she remained unfazed, noting that she was only 0.2 seconds off the pole position time, highlighting the extreme competitiveness of the grid.
Charging Through the Heats and Finals
Atiqa made a spirited comeback during the heat races, where her resilience and skill were on full display. She secured a series of impressive finishes—P7, P9, and a standout P5—while also recording two Fastest Laps. In the critical super heats, she crossed the line in P11.
The grand finale saw Atiqa demonstrate her overtaking prowess. Starting from a disadvantaged position, she sliced through the pack, overtaking eight karts to finish P16 overall out of 117 competitors.
Breaking Barriers in Motorsport
Atiqa Mir continues to make history as the first Indian driver to receive support from the Formula 1 Academy. Following her successful debut, she expressed her gratitude toward her team and sponsors, including Kart Republic, Raise, JK Tyre, and JM Group, for their unwavering support.