11-year-old racing prodigy Atiqa Mir secured a landmark fifth-place finish at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Competing in Round 7 of the IAME UAE Karting Championship, Mir made a spectacular debut in the Junior S125 category, having recently stepped up from the Mini class. By finishing fifth in a fiercely competitive field of 35 drivers, she became the first Indian and the first female racer to record a top-five finish in this category globally.
Mir’s transition to the Junior class involved mastering a kart that is 30kg heavier and significantly more powerful, reaching speeds of up to 126kmph. Despite qualifying 18th due to a mechanical issue, she staged a brilliant recovery over the 21-lap race, missing out on a podium spot by just four-tenths of a second. The Srinagar-born athlete, who is the first Indian supported by the F1 Academy, follows in the footsteps of her father, Asif Nazir Mir, India’s first national karting champion. This achievement underscores her rapid ascent in motorsport as she pursues her ultimate goal of reaching Formula 1.