Atiqa Mir became the first Indian to secure a podium finish in the European leg of the Champions of the Future Academy (COTFA) karting series when he finished third overall in the opening round final. The 11-year-old’s achievement is a standout in Indian motorsport and represents her biggest result since stepping up to the OKNJ (junior) category from the Mini class.
Peace, who is also the first Indian to be supported by the F1 Academyshowed consistent pace throughout the event. She set the fastest lap in the final and was in contention for pole during qualifying, but was blocked by a slower rider on her flying lap, resulting in her starting ninth.
During the weekend, Mir showed strong racing skills. She finished third in race 1 and second in race 2. These results earned her a third-place start in the decisive final race at the Lucas Guerrero Circuit.
During the 15-lap final, Mir held second place at the start. On the last lap she made a bold move on the outside in the chicane in the final corner and crossed the line second on track. This finish was a record for an Indian rider in the series. However, following a post-race penalty, she was classified third overall.
The next day brought more challenges. Mir again missed out on pole position in qualifying due to traffic. She was pushed off the track in Race 1 and finished ninth. In Race 2, she crossed the line first, but lost the win due to a post-race penalty.
WHAT DID ATIQA SAY ABOUT PERFORMANCE?
Atiqa said she was thrilled with her performance and the opportunity to hold the Indian flag high on the podium.
“It was a great race. Really hard pace at the front and I was able to fight until the last corner. I took a risk in the last corner because I didn’t want to settle for third.”
“As the great Ayrton Senna said, if you no longer go into the gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver. It was risky but it paid off. I am happy to have the flag of India on the podium and it is a proud moment for me and the country,” said Atiqa.
Despite many setbacks and penalties, Mir’s performances remained remarkable. She consistently achieved good results and impressed observers with her pace and overtaking abilities in the junior category.
– The end
Published on:
March 3, 2026 10:35 AM IST
