Want Santa to bring more international races to India: Mira Erda

For Mira Erda, “Christmas is all about slowing down and spending time with loved ones.” The racer, who has numerous podium finishes to her credit at national and international Formula 4 events, says, “While my sport is all about speed, we don’t have races during this time of the year. People are usually free. I love catching up with friends and love the overall vibe during the festival. I love wearing red during Xmas. I am also fond of the cute sweaters that flood the market. My elder brother (Vrajesh) has always been my Secret Santa. If he knows I am looking for something, he gifts it to me. I want Santa to bring more international races to India. With a lot more young kids taking up motorsports, this exposure will be invaluable. I also want two more gifts from Santa—a fully funded racing season and a new helmet, which I will design.”‘I never miss having hot chocolate on Xmas’Talking about her fondest Xmas memories, Mira says, “I studied in a convent school (Rosary High School, Vadodara) till Class X, which houses one of Vadodara’s biggest churches. Attending the annual function around Xmas remains one of my fondest childhood memories. I loved the decoration and lights, and the overall vibe during the festival is always so cosy and nice! It was among the few occasions when we went to the school in the evening, and I would eagerly look forward to it.” She adds, “These days, we usually celebrate the festival at our track in Vadodara and Ahmedabad. The cold weather, cosy vibes, and calmness create an unforgettable ambience. It’s the perfect weather for relishing hot chocolate, and it’s something I never miss out on during Xmas. For me, hot chocolate and marshmallows is the best combo to celebrate Xmas.”‘Love eating homemade plum cakes and brownies’Mira, who is a big foodie, says, “I have a lot of Christian friends. During childhood, I would attend a lot of Xmas parties at friends’ homes. I love eating homemade plum cakes and brownies. They use special ingredients and it’s delicious.”‘I want to travel more in 2026’Looking back at 2025, she says, “On the last 10 days of the year, I love to relax and reflect on things, including the mistakes I made and how I can improve. Professionally, 2025 was a tricky year as financial support wasn’t easy to come by. But I also completed a fully funded event, where I won all four races during a championship round. It’s something I have never done before, and I hope for more of the same in 2026. Holding four trophies together was an unforgettable moment.”She adds, “Personally, it was a happy year. Although there were a few challenging phases, we dealt with it together as a family, which made our bond stronger. I went on two solo international trips (Vietnam and Dubai) and it was great fun. I hope to travel a lot more in the new year. I am going on a month-long trip to the US in the first week of January.”