Atiqa Mir, a name resonating within the motorsport community, is a 10-year-old kart racing prodigy hailing from Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Currently residing in Dubai, she has rapidly emerged as a prominent figure in the world of karting, capturing the attention of Formula 1 and the F1 Academy.
Mir's journey in motorsports began at a young age, transitioning from recreational electric karts to professional karting. Her father, Asif Nazir Mir, a former national karting champion in India and Formula Asia Vice Champion, has been a pillar of support, guiding her through the ranks of competitive racing.
Atiqa's career boasts impressive achievements. In the 2022–23 season, she secured the vice-champion title in the UAE IAME National Karting Championship in the Mini R category. In 2024, she became the first Indian female driver to qualify for the Rotax Euro Trophy finals in South Garda, Italy. Later that year, she clinched a victory in the Micro Max category at the Rotax Max Challenge International Trophy (RMCIT) in Le Mans, France, marking her as the first female racer to win a race in the series. More recently, earlier this month, she won a race in the DAMC series in Dubai.
In January 2025, Mir joined the Babyrace Driver Academy in Italy to compete in the WSK Karting Series. She also earned the distinction of being the only Asian driver selected for the Iron Dames Young Talent program in 2024. Furthermore, she was chosen for the Formula 1 Academy's "Discover Your Drive" program, designed to nurture young female talent in motorsport.
Most recently, Atiqa Mir showcased her exceptional talent at the Champions of the Future Academy (COFTA) karting series in Orechova, Slovakia. In round 4.1, she finished in an impressive fourth place, narrowly missing a podium finish by a mere 0.32 seconds. This achievement marks the highest finish by an Indian driver in the championship's history and the highest finish by a female driver in the ongoing season. Despite being in a male-dominated grid at the Slovakia Karting Centre, her performance demonstrated her exemplary racecraft and potential in a competitive field. In the second race of the weekend, she was running in third place until she was hit by another competitor, causing her to finish 11th.
COFTA is a global karting championship launched by the F1 Academy in collaboration with Champions of the Future that aims to promote female participation in motorsport. The series is split into three mixed-gender categories: Minis (ages 8-11), Juniors (ages 11-14), and Seniors (ages 14+). The F1 Academy supports the top female karters in each category with guidance, branded equipment, and financial aid.
Mir's recent performance in Slovakia has garnered praise from her team and family. Reflecting on her weekend, Atiqa, who drives for AKCEL GP, expressed happiness with her progress and performance against a top European grid. Her father acknowledged her hard work and the support of her team, highlighting her impressive progress and dedication.
Looking ahead, Atiqa Mir aspires to compete in Formula 1, drawing inspiration from drivers like Max Verstappen, George Russell, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Her journey serves as an inspiration to young girls worldwide, demonstrating that talent and determination can break barriers in motorsport.
