{"id":28278,"date":"2023-03-09T07:00:21","date_gmt":"2023-03-09T01:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/?post_type=story&#038;p=28278"},"modified":"2024-12-27T17:10:00","modified_gmt":"2024-12-27T11:40:00","slug":"indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/","title":{"rendered":"Indian teen racing champ Atharva has eyes on F1"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>(March 9, 2023)<\/strong> Atharva Desai was eight-years-old when he watched his first Formula 1 race on TV, at his Virginia home. He was enchanted. He ran and pressed his face up against the screen. With his sights set firmly on an F1 seat and hopefully, a world championship, the youngster participated in the regional Formula 3 championships in 2022.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_11211\" style=\"width: 885px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11211\" class=\"wp-image-11211 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/image-1-EDITED.jpg\" alt=\"Indian teen racing | Atharva Desai | Formula 3 | Global Indian\" width=\"875\" height=\"583\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 875px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 875\/583;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11211\" class=\"wp-image-11211\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/image-1-EDITED.jpg\" alt=\"Indian teen racing | Atharva Desai | Formula 3 | Global Indian\" width=\"875\" height=\"583\" \/><\/noscript><p id=\"caption-attachment-11211\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Atharva Desai at the Anglesey Circuit in Wales<\/p><\/div>\n<h5><strong>A Brit Indian with a need for speed<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Atharva Desai entered racing before he hit his teens. It&#8217;s a cutthroat world that required emotional stability far beyond his years, just as much as talent and skill, he tells <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Global Indian<\/em><\/a>. \u201cAttitude and confidence are important. You never know who is watching you. While talent is the first thing scouts look for, the second round involves testing a person\u2019s confidence and approach to life. They want someone who can endorse them, who will bring their team a good name.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Soon after he watched that first race on TV, his obliging parents took the excited eight-year-old to a go-karting track called the Allsports Grand Prix in Northern Virginia. He failed to meet the height requirements but was back the following year, determined to practice on his own. He was noticed by the track owner, Francois, who remarked to Atharva\u2019s father that the boy \u201cdrives like a young Sir Jackie Stewart\u201d and began teaching him the fundamentals of racing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was 10 when I entered my first junior league,\u201d says the Indian teen racing champ. A rookie, going up against opponents far more experienced than himself, he went on to win the championship, levelling up, and emerging victorious the next year too. \u201cThere was the last level left to compete at but my teacher stopped me. He thought I would beat everyone. My adult opponents wouldn\u2019t have been happy about that,\u201d he smiles.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11212 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/banner-image.jpg\" alt=\"Indian teen racing | Atharva Desai | Formula 3 | Global Indian\" width=\"803\" height=\"535\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 803px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 803\/535;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11212\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/banner-image.jpg\" alt=\"Indian teen racing | Atharva Desai | Formula 3 | Global Indian\" width=\"803\" height=\"535\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>After finishing second at the ROTAX National Race, Atharva was invited to test Formula 4 cars. And he impressed all. \u201cI got blazing times. It got me noticed,\u201d says the Indian teen racing champ who, in search of a good school to study engineering, chose Oxford Brookes College in the UK due to its motorsports curriculum.<\/p>\n<p>At the Young Racing Driver Academy in Virginia, he met Jamie Horner, director, an established name, Horner\u2019s brother, Christian, the British team principal for team Redbull Formula 1. \u201cI became a developing driver to improve my skills, and hopefully race for them in the future,\u201d says the 19-year-old. At the academy in Anglesey, drivers were put on simulators, chosen based on skills and timing. Atharva found out soon enough that F4 cars in the UK are quite different from those in the US. \u201cThe American cars are digital, less rigid. They\u2019re not meant for aggressive racing. In the UK, they\u2019re built for aggressive drivers \u2013 which is what I am,\u201d says the Indian teen racing champ who re-honed his skills, leaving his mentors impressed.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>How Nikki Lauda inspired him<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Committed and driven, Atharva Desai is up before 6 am, starting with an hour at the gym. Back home, he cooks breakfast, and heads to class. Unwavering discipline, born of mental fortitude, he explains, \u201cI don\u2019t get angry often. Motorsports, especially, the earlier phases are competitive and full of aggression. You\u2019re getting attacked both on and off the track. So, you learn. If someone provokes me, I think, my goal is to be in F1. My goal is not to meddle with the guy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Even his choice of idols is unusual \u2013 Nikki Lauda, the legendary Austrian Formula One and three-time F1 World Drivers\u2019 Champion, the only driver in history to be champion for both Ferrari and McLaren. In 1976, Lauda\u2019s Ferrari swerved off the track and burst into flames. \u201cHe was pulled out of the car with half his face on fire. He didn\u2019t give up, with dedication and mental strength, he made it through. Nothing could stand in his way,\u201d says the Indian teen racing champ.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11213 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/image-3-EDITED.jpg\" alt=\"Indian teen racing | Atharva Desai | Formula 3 | Global Indian\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/800;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11213 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/image-3-EDITED.jpg\" alt=\"Indian teen racing | Atharva Desai | Formula 3 | Global Indian\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<h5><strong>All about motorsport<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Doing engineering in motorsport technology at Oxford, Atharva is uncommonly mature. \u201cI was raised with Indian values. I understand that a little competition can go a long way,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n<p>This year, he hopes to join a Formula 3 team in the US. \u201cI have built good relationships there, and they are willing to give me an F3 seat,\u201d says the racer whose connection with Arden Motorsports will continue alongside. \u201cNext year, I start negotiating with Formula 2 teams. I also have to work at getting sponsors to back me,\u201d says the Indian teen racing champ.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>The chequered flag beckons<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Much of his success, the Indian teen racing champ attributes to his unwavering resolve. \u201cAttitude, confidence and general likeability all count for a lot. Being a race driver requires huge mental fortitude,\u201d says the boy whose daily regimen involves mental training, \u201cI do reaction time testing and I juggle &#8211; for balance and skill.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11214 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/image-4-EDITED.jpg\" alt=\"Indian teen racing | Atharva Desai | Formula 3 | Global Indian\" width=\"968\" height=\"645\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 968px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 968\/645;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11214\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/image-4-EDITED.jpg\" alt=\"Indian teen racing | Atharva Desai | Formula 3 | Global Indian\" width=\"968\" height=\"645\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Racing is an expensive sport, and staying on the track is thanks to the unflinching support by his parents. \u201cI&#8217;m motivated by the fact they trust me and know I&#8217;m working hard,\u201d says Atharva. He practices on iRacing, a simulation software. \u201cThere are actual drivers and scouts on it, so I\u00a0 practice and register for races,\u201d says the teen, who loves to skateboard or decipher the Rubic&#8217;s Cubes. Music is also a pet passion, \u201cWhen I have time to spare, I make electronic music on my laptop,\u201d he adds. The Indian teen racing champ\u2019s 3,420 followers on Instagram are fondly called A4Rians, and he regularly updates them on race day highs.<\/p>\n<p>As Youth Ambassador for Quench 66 by AquaKraft Pvt. Ltd, an initiative by the government of Maharashtra, he is also moving forward the mission to provide 50 million litres of drinking water across 500 schools in the state.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Follow Atharva on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/atharva4racing\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram<\/a><\/strong> or visit his website<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(March 9, 2023) Atharva Desai was eight-years-old when he watched his first Formula 1 race on TV, at his Virginia home. He was enchanted. He ran and pressed his face up against the screen. With his sights set firmly on an F1 seat and hopefully, a world championship, the youngster participated in the regional Formula 3 championships in 2022. A Brit Indian with a need for speed Atharva Desai entered racing before he hit his teens. It&#8217;s a cutthroat world that required emotional stability far beyond his years, just as much as talent and skill, he tells Global Indian. \u201cAttitude [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":28279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","story-category":[215,2802],"story-tag":[4388,4387,4382,4385,4384,4386,4383,4389],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Atharva Desai | Indian teen racing champ has his eyes on F1<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Formula 3 driver Atharva Desai is an aspiring F1 racer and aims to be a subject matter expert in Motorsport and race car engineering.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Atharva Desai | Indian teen racing champ has his eyes on F1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Formula 3 driver Atharva Desai is an aspiring F1 racer and aims to be a subject matter expert in Motorsport and race car engineering.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Global Indian Youth\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-12-27T11:40:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/atharva-banner.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/\",\"name\":\"Atharva Desai | Indian teen racing champ has his eyes on F1\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/atharva-banner.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-03-09T01:30:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-27T11:40:00+00:00\",\"description\":\"Formula 3 driver Atharva Desai is an aspiring F1 racer and aims to be a subject matter expert in Motorsport and race car engineering.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/atharva-banner.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/atharva-banner.jpg\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":640},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Stories\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Indian teen racing champ Atharva has eyes on F1\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/\",\"name\":\"Global Indian Youth\",\"description\":\"A hero\u2019s journey\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Atharva Desai | Indian teen racing champ has his eyes on F1","description":"Formula 3 driver Atharva Desai is an aspiring F1 racer and aims to be a subject matter expert in Motorsport and race car engineering.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Atharva Desai | Indian teen racing champ has his eyes on F1","og_description":"Formula 3 driver Atharva Desai is an aspiring F1 racer and aims to be a subject matter expert in Motorsport and race car engineering.","og_url":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/","og_site_name":"Global Indian Youth","article_modified_time":"2024-12-27T11:40:00+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1920,"height":640,"url":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/atharva-banner.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/","url":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/","name":"Atharva Desai | Indian teen racing champ has his eyes on F1","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/atharva-banner.jpg","datePublished":"2023-03-09T01:30:21+00:00","dateModified":"2024-12-27T11:40:00+00:00","description":"Formula 3 driver Atharva Desai is an aspiring F1 racer and aims to be a subject matter expert in Motorsport and race car engineering.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/atharva-banner.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/atharva-banner.jpg","width":1920,"height":640},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/indian-teen-racing-champ-atharva-has-eyes-on-f1\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Stories","item":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Indian teen racing champ Atharva has eyes on F1"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/#website","url":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/","name":"Global Indian Youth","description":"A hero\u2019s journey","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story\/28278"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28278"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story\/28278\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41173,"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story\/28278\/revisions\/41173"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"story-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story-category?post=28278"},{"taxonomy":"story-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story-tag?post=28278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}