Boys would discourage me from racing: Mira

GURUGRAM: Mira Erda, the first Indian woman driver to compete in Formula racing in the country, feels motorsports in India is beginning to be more inclusive, but still needs more participation by

women

. The 18-year-old was in the city to attend the national finals of

Red Bull

Catch Up, an amateur go-kart tournament for women.


At the event held on Wednesday to mark International Women’s Day, Mira cheered on girls trying to make a mark in the world of motorsports, till recently considered a male

domain

. “I feel women participation in Formula One should be more. It is physically challenging but there is no fun in life without challenges. It is all about one’s

determination

and hard work. I think women in India are becoming more confident about racing,” she said.

Mira, who began racing at the age of nine on tracks built at her Vadodara home, broke into the national karting circuit as one of its youngest racers, competing in LGB Formula 4 (single-seater racing) till 2016. There, she proved herself to be equal to stronger

boys

behind the wheel, and won the Formula 4 Rookie Champion of the Year award in 2017. She entered the big league of Formula racing in 2017 when she signed up for the Euro JK Series to participate in the national championship.

Initially, she faced some hurdles and discrimination, but her determination helped her through the bumpy stretches. “When I started, things were tough for women as they were not taken seriously. Boys often used to discourage women who would take up racing as a sport. I remember boys not approving of me racing with them as they believed it was a male-dominated sport.

“However, things have improved drastically now.

Men

have become more welcoming and supportive of women drivers,” she said.

“I have racing tracks at my home in Vadodara. As a kid, I would manoeuvre large vehicles with

ease

there. My father was convinced that I could compete with the boys at the national level and encouraged me,” recalled the young racer.