La Conca, Italy | November 10, 2026 :
A REMARKABLE PERFORMANCE BY INDIA’S YOUNG RACING SENSATION!
Indian karting prodigy Atiqa Mir delivered an outstanding performance on her FIA Karting World Championship debut in La Conca, Italy, storming through the field to secure an impressive sixth-place finish in Race 1 after gaining 16 positions.
The 11-year-old racer from Srinagar demonstrated exceptional determination, racecraft and overtaking ability against a highly competitive international field in the 12–14 age category. Her performance stood out as one of the most impressive recovery drives of the weekend, highlighting her potential on the global motorsport stage.
🔥 FROM QUALIFYING SETBACK TO A SENSATIONAL COMEBACK
Atiqa’s weekend began with promising pace, as she secured third place in the Qualifying Sim Practice Session. However, her qualifying run was severely disrupted when two drivers involved in crashes obstructed her while rejoining the track, ruining her flying lap.
The incident pushed her down to second-last in her group and 83rd overall among 87 competitors. With only three heat races available to recover positions, Atiqa faced a formidable challenge.
Representing the Kart Republic team, the young racer refused to let the setback derail her campaign. Instead, she turned adversity into an opportunity to showcase her overtaking skills and competitive spirit.
🏁 30 POSITIONS GAINED ACROSS THE HEATS
Atiqa produced a series of determined drives throughout the competition:
- Race 1: Gained 16 places to finish sixth — her best result of the weekend.
- Race 2: Climbed 10 positions through the field.
- Race 3: Gained another four places.
- Overall heats: Made up an impressive 30 positions across the three races.
- Overall classification: Finished 40th among 87 drivers after gaining 43 places over the weekend.
Her recovery drive in Race 1 was particularly noteworthy, underlining her ability to compete with more experienced international rivals despite starting from a difficult position.
🌧️ SUPER HEAT CHALLENGE
In Sunday’s Super Heat, Atiqa started 14th on the grid and quickly gained five positions. However, a crash in challenging weather conditions dropped her back to 16th.
Despite the disappointment, her performance across the heats remained a major highlight of her championship debut, demonstrating resilience, adaptability and confidence under pressure.
🎙️ ATIQA: “I FEEL I BELONG AT THIS LEVEL”
Reflecting on her experience, Atiqa said she enjoyed the overtaking battles and treated the weekend as valuable racing practice after the qualifying setback.
She explained that the incident during qualifying was beyond her control, so she focused on making the most of the opportunities available to her.
Atiqa also expressed confidence in her ability to challenge at the front with a stronger qualifying performance and thanked her sponsors, Raise and JK Tyre, for supporting her racing journey.
👏 FATHER ASIF MIR PRAISES HER GRIT
Atiqa’s father, Asif Mir, India’s first national karting champion, said the team had been aiming for a top-five result before the qualifying incident disrupted their plans.
He praised his daughter’s determination and said her recovery drives had impressed him, particularly given the level of competition and the challenge of racing against older, more experienced drivers.
🇮🇳 A PROMISING STEP FOR INDIAN MOTORSPORT
Atiqa Mir, the first Indian driver backed by the Formula 1 Academy, continues to attract attention as one of the country’s promising young motorsport talents.
Her performance in Italy demonstrated that setbacks need not define a race weekend. By fighting back from 83rd overall in qualifying to deliver a sixth-place finish in Race 1, she offered an encouraging glimpse of her potential on the international stage.
From Srinagar to the world karting circuit, Atiqa Mir is making her mark with speed, courage and determination. Her debut has provided valuable experience and a strong foundation for the challenges ahead.
