In a stunning display of skill and composure, 10-year-old Atiqa Mir from Jammu and Kashmir became the first female racer ever to win a final in the Minimax category of the RMC UAE Karting Championship.
As per a statement, competing against an all-male field of 15 drivers representing eight nationalities, Atiqa took the race lead on lap four and never looked back, sealing a dominant victory by over four seconds at Al Ain Raceway.Atiqa fought adversity from third on the grid before coming out on top in a tight race. She made a decisive move on the inside for the lead and never looked back, setting a blistering pace in rather windy conditions. The win came after a difficult last weekend when Atiqa injured her hand but still managed a top-10 finish in the UAE IAME series.
That felt good. It was tough for the first four laps. I was being pushed around but I fought hard and held on. I got a run on the back straight and went for the overtake for the lead,” said the racer from Jammu and Kashmir.
“After that I really pushed hard every lap as I knew I was without a slipstream and there was a chance that the chasing pack would catch me. But I had good pace and managed the win. Big thanks to the Akcel GP Team headed by Marc Baines and my mechanic CR. A win on debut for my team,” she added.
In the first race of the weekend on Saturday, Atiqa charged through the field after falling to 10th for a well-deserved third place finish on the podium. In the process, Atiqa set the fastest lap and event record in that race and the only driver to break the 59-second lap barrier in two days of racing.
Team principal of Akcel GP, Rohit, was understandably ecstatic with the result on debut.
“An exceptional weekend and a landmark result for Akcel GP in our debut RMC outing. Atiqa delivered a commanding performance—securing our first podium on Saturday and converting it into a race win on Sunday. Her pace, consistency, and racecraft under pressure were outstanding. This is a significant moment for the team, and we’re incredibly proud of the effort from everyone involved,” he said.
