{"id":42837,"date":"2025-06-13T07:00:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T01:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/?post_type=story&#038;p=42837"},"modified":"2025-06-12T12:43:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T07:13:16","slug":"dubai-based-karting-prodigy-atiqa-mir-becomes-first-indian-in-rotax-euro-top-10","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/dubai-based-karting-prodigy-atiqa-mir-becomes-first-indian-in-rotax-euro-top-10\/","title":{"rendered":"Dubai-based karting prodigy Atiqa Mir becomes first Indian in Rotax Euro Top 10"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>(June 13, 2025)<\/strong> On a rainy day at the Steel Ring karting track in Trinec, Czech Republic, 10-year-old Atiqa Mir from India raced through the wet and slippery course with focus and skill. She was competing in the Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy, one of the biggest karting events in the world, against top young drivers from different countries. Despite the tough weather and a few penalties, Atiqa stayed calm and drove smart. When the race ended, she finished in ninth place\u2014becoming the first Indian, and the first Asian, to ever secure a top-10 finish in this event. \u201cIt was an amazing weekend,\u201d she said later. \u201cI learnt so much driving with the best drivers in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At 10 years old, Dubai-based Atiqa Mir is already competing (and excelling) on international karting circuits, breaking new ground for India in motorsport.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_42845\" style=\"width: 449px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-42845\" class=\"wp-image-42845 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5-819x1024.webp\" alt=\"Atiqa Mir | Global Indian\" width=\"439\" height=\"549\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5-819x1024.webp 819w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5-240x300.webp 240w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5-768x960.webp 768w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5-1229x1536.webp 1229w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5-1080x1350.webp 1080w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5-980x1225.webp 980w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5-480x600.webp 480w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5.webp 1280w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 439px) 100vw, 439px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 439px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 439\/549;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-42845\" class=\" wp-image-42845\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5-819x1024.webp\" alt=\"Atiqa Mir | Global Indian\" width=\"439\" height=\"549\" srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5-819x1024.webp 819w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5-240x300.webp 240w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5-768x960.webp 768w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5-1229x1536.webp 1229w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5-1080x1350.webp 1080w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5-980x1225.webp 980w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5-480x600.webp 480w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa5.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 439px) 100vw, 439px\" \/><\/noscript><p id=\"caption-attachment-42845\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Atiqa Mir<\/p><\/div>\n<h5><strong>Early Life in Kashmir and Love for Speed<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Atiqa\u2019s path to that rainy race in Europe started far from the track\u2014in the peaceful valleys of Kashmir, where she spent her early years. She was born into a family that loved racing. Her father, Asif Nazir Mir, was a champion driver himself. He became India\u2019s first national karting champion in 2000 and went on to race in events like Formula Asia and the Barber Dodge Pro Series in the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>At home, Atiqa was surrounded by her dad\u2019s trophies and stories from the racetrack. That world fascinated her. \u201cMy dad was India\u2019s first national karting champion, and that really inspired me to start karting as well because I loved cars since\u2026 I don\u2019t know\u2026 since I was born!\u201d she said in an interview. As a toddler, Atiqa didn\u2019t ask for dolls\u2014she asked for toy cars. Her favorite was Lightning McQueen, the racecar from the animated movie Cars. \u201cShe would only ask for cars, especially Lightning McQueen, who was her hero,\u201d her father recalled.<\/p>\n<p>Atiqa\u2019s love for racing quickly grew into something serious. Her parents encouraged her interest by letting her drive battery-powered toy cars in parks and malls. When she was five, she got a chance to try a small electric kart at a mall in Dubai during a family trip\u2014and she was hooked right away.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-42847 aligncenter lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa3.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa3.webp 800w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa3-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa3-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa3-480x270.webp 480w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 800\/450;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-42847 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa3.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa3.webp 800w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa3-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa3-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa3-480x270.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Seeing how excited and confident she was, her father, Asif, gave her a challenge on an indoor karting track: complete a lap in under 59.1 seconds. To his surprise, Atiqa met the goal. That moment made Asif realize his daughter had real talent. \u201cOne thing led to another, and the journey started,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>A New Home in Dubai and Racing Beginnings<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>When Atiqa was about five or six, her family moved from Mumbai to Dubai\u2014a change that opened many doors for her racing dreams. Dubai had some of the best karting tracks and competitions, perfect for a young racer like her. Soon after moving, Atiqa joined the UAE\u2019s National Karting Championship in the Bambino class, which is meant for very young beginners.<\/p>\n<p>Starting out, things weren\u2019t easy. Atiqa was about 10\u201315 kg heavier than others in her category, which made a big difference in karting, where every kilogram affects speed. But she didn\u2019t let that stop her. She followed a strict routine and lost 8 kg in just five months. It was her first big lesson in how much hard work racing required. By the time she was seven, Atiqa was a regular on Dubai\u2019s tracks\u2014wearing a racing suit that looked a little too big, but driving with skill well beyond her age.<\/p>\n<p>Atiqa\u2019s hard work soon began to show results. She started winning local karting races and quickly became known in the UAE racing scene. When she was just eight years old, she became the vice-champion in the Mini R category of the UAE IAME Series. It was a big deal\u2014no girl under 10 had ever placed that high in any national karting championship run by the FIA or CIK-FIA.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-42848 aligncenter lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa1.webp\" alt=\"Atiqa Mir | Global Indian\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa1.webp 600w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa1-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa1-480x270.webp 480w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/338;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-42848 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa1.webp\" alt=\"Atiqa Mir | Global Indian\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa1.webp 600w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa1-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa1-480x270.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>By the age of nine, Atiqa was racing in Europe and even landing podium finishes. One of her proudest moments happened at the famous Le Mans Karting Circuit in France. There, during the Rotax International Trophy, she became the first female racer to win a race at that track, beating boys and girls from all over the world.\u201cAny race win feels good, but Le Mans felt better because I did it against the best drivers in the world,\u201d Atiqa said.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Rigorous Training and Family Support<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Atiqa Mir\u2019s success isn\u2019t just about talent\u2014it\u2019s also about hard work and strong family support. She studies at Jumeira Public School in Dubai, where her teachers and classmates cheer her on. Managing school and racing in different countries isn\u2019t easy, but Atiqa handles it with energy and excitement.<\/p>\n<p>Most weekdays, after school, she heads to the karting track to practice. Her father coaches her closely, watching every lap and giving her tips. \u201cI practice every day and he is my mentor,\u201d Atiqa says. They also sit down together to review her driving and look at race data. Atiqa takes notes to see how she can improve for the next race.<\/p>\n<p>Fitness is a big part of her routine too. Though she\u2019s only ten, she trains like a professional athlete. \u201cHe also helps me do my physical training,\u201d Atiqa says about her dad. \u201cI usually enjoy running more than strength training, but it has to be a mix of both, is what my father tells me. We enjoy working out together a lot.\u201d Her mother, Shazia Mir, is just as involved. She travels with Atiqa to races around the world\u2014in Spain, Germany, Italy, France, and the UK. \u201cMy husband and I make this support system for Atiqa so she is always performing at her best,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DJnySJwTcgo\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DJnySJwTcgo\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Ms Atiqa Asif Mir\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf3 (@atiqa.asifmir)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h5><strong>Breaking Records and Gaining Recognition<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>By the time Atiqa turned ten, her shelf was already full of trophies and medals. She became the first Indian girl to win an FIA-approved international karting race when she was just six. She was also the only Asian chosen for the Iron Dames Young Talent program in Italy\u2014a special initiative that supports the best young female racers from around the world.<\/p>\n<p>In many races, Atiqa was ranked as the fastest girl under 10 on the track, both in India and internationally. \u201cI don\u2019t really care about it [milestones and records]. Racing brings me joy and I just care about doing my best, even if I can\u2019t beat the lap record,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>Such has been her talent that people around the world are noticing her impressive journey. She is mentored by Narain Karthikeyan, India\u2019s first Formula 1 driver, who believes she has a bright future in racing. In early 2025, Atiqa got a huge boost when F1 Academy\u2014a special racing program for young girls backed by Formula One\u2014selected her for its driver development program. She became the first Indian and first Asian girl to be chosen for this honor. The program, called \u201cDiscover Your Drive,\u201d picked nine young female racers from around the world, and Atiqa was one of the youngest on the list.<\/p>\n<p>Soon after, she joined the AKCEL GP Racing Academy in the UAE, becoming the youngest Indian ever to be part of this professional motorsport training program. AKCEL GP competes in Formula 4 and other junior racing series. The academy will help train Atiqa and 14 other young drivers through advanced karting and prepare them for formula car racing.<\/p>\n<p>When Atiqa joined the academy in June 2025, she was thrilled. \u201cRacing is everything to me. It\u2019s where I feel strong, fast, and free,\u201d she said with a big smile. She called the opportunity \u201ca dream come true\u201d and said she wants to inspire other girls like her. \u201cI want to show young girls like me from Dubai and India that we can compete at the highest levels,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-42846 aligncenter lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa-1024x681.webp\" alt=\"Atiqa Mir | Global Indian\" width=\"726\" height=\"483\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa-1024x681.webp 1024w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa-768x511.webp 768w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa-1080x718.webp 1080w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa-980x652.webp 980w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa-480x319.webp 480w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa.webp 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 726px) 100vw, 726px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 726px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 726\/483;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-42846 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa-1024x681.webp\" alt=\"Atiqa Mir | Global Indian\" width=\"726\" height=\"483\" srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa-1024x681.webp 1024w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa-768x511.webp 768w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa-1080x718.webp 1080w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa-980x652.webp 980w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa-480x319.webp 480w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/atiqa.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 726px) 100vw, 726px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Her biggest goal? Formula 1. \u201cOne day, I hope to race in Formula 1, and I\u2019m ready to work hard to get there.\u201d And given how much effort she\u2019s already put in since she was a little girl, it\u2019s clear she truly means it.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Inspiring the Next Generation<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Even though she\u2019s only ten, Atiqa Mir has already become a role model for young girls in India, the Middle East, and beyond. In a sport mostly filled with boys and men, she\u2019s proving that girls can be just as fast and fearless. \u201cWhat she is doing is groundbreaking for India and for women,\u201d says her father proudly. \u201cThere aren\u2019t too many sports where boys and girls compete on the same stage, and Atiqa is showing that girls can outperform boys too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Being a girl in karting isn\u2019t always easy. Atiqa has faced extra pressure and even some unkindness from other racers who, as her dad puts it, \u201cdon\u2019t like to be beaten by a girl.\u201d Off the track, Atiqa is just like any other kid. She loves biryani almost as much as she loves racing.<\/p>\n<p>As Atiqa Mir races ahead in her journey, she carries the hopes and dreams of many. People from India, the UAE, and even faraway countries have sent messages saying they\u2019ve put their daughters into karting after hearing her story. Her message to other kids is simple yet powerful, &#8220;Believe in yourself. If you believe you can win, you will. Find what you love, \u201cdream it, follow it, work hard on it, never give up,&#8221; and most importantly, \u201cdon\u2019t let anyone tell you that you can\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With every race, every win, and every record she breaks, Atiqa shows that age and gender don\u2019t matter when it comes to chasing dreams. And she\u2019s just getting started. With her eyes on Formula 1 and her heart fully in the game, Atiqa Mir\u2019s story is only beginning\u2014and it\u2019s already changing the face of Indian motorsport.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Follow Atiqa Mir on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/atiqa.asifmir\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/global-indian-exclusive\/how-young-racers-are-putting-indian-motorsports-on-the-global-map\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How young racers are putting Indian motorsports on the global map<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(June 13, 2025) On a rainy day at the Steel Ring karting track in Trinec, Czech Republic, 10-year-old Atiqa Mir from India raced through the wet and slippery course with focus and skill. She was competing in the Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy, one of the biggest karting events in the world, against top young drivers from different countries. Despite the tough weather and a few penalties, Atiqa stayed calm and drove smart. When the race ended, she finished in ninth place\u2014becoming the first Indian, and the first Asian, to ever secure a top-10 finish in this event. \u201cIt was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":42839,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","story-category":[215,2527],"story-tag":[9528,14,2773,4648,5343],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Karting prodigy Atiqa Mir becomes first Indian in Rotax Euro Top 10<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"10-year-old Atiqa Mir becomes the first Indian to secure a top-10 finish at the Rotax Euro Trophy, marking a new chapter in motorsport.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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