Ace Iranian lady driver to visit Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Iran’s top lady rally driver Laleh Seddigh, dubbed the ‘Little Schumacher’, will visit Bengaluru during the Horizon 41st K-1000 Rally this weekend at the invitation of Team Mahindra Adventure.
Laleh, who was granted special permission by the Iranian authorities to compete against men in their national championship, will arrive on Thursday.The 38-year-old driver will exchange views and experiences with Mahindra Adventure drivers during the Bengaluru stage of the Indian Rally Championship.
Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group, said, “I would like to welcome Laleh to India and it is our pleasure to host her. Women are proving themselves in professions which had otherwise been male dominated for years and Laleh has played her cards with much confidence. A role model for the youth who wants to excel not just in motor sport but in any arena, she epitomizes the spirit of women empowerment like no other.”
“I am excited to experience the motor sport scene in India and would like to thank team Mahindra Adventure for providing me this platform to exchange thoughts and experiences with their rally drivers. I cannot wait to watch the rally prepared Mahindra XUV500s in action, sliding and drifting off the curves. I truly believe that motor sport has immense potential to be recognized as a mainstream sport and in my own way I would like to encourage more people to take it up as their profession, as a serious sport,” Seddigh said.
“Such interactions will not only bring in cross country perspectives, but I am sure this will also provide the right impetus for more support and an increased visibility for a sport which so far has been a playground for a select few,” the Iranian said.