"It’s a dream come true for me."
Indian karting talent Atiqa Mir has joined Kart Republic (KR), gaining a major boost to her ambitions of becoming a Formula 1 driver.
The 11-year-old from Srinagar has signed with the team owned by Italian motorsport veteran Dino Chiesa, who has helped develop the careers of several Formula 1 world champions, including Lewis Hamilton.
Mir switched to KR mid-season after impressing Chiesa with her performances across multiple karting series in Europe. The move gives her an opportunity to develop alongside some of the world’s leading young drivers.
KR and Chiesa have worked with several current Formula 1 stars, including reigning world champion Lando Norris, George Russell, Oscar Piastri and championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
Arvid Lindblad has also been associated with the team.
Chiesa played an instrumental role in shaping the early careers of seven-time world champion Hamilton and 2016 title-holder Nico Rosberg.
Joining KR will provide Mir with a platform to progress in the OKJ category (ages 12-14) over the next two years, competing against some of the strongest young talents in international karting.
Atiqa Mir said: “I’m really excited to be joining KR and starting this new chapter.
“It’s a dream come true for me. I’m looking forward to working with the team, learning as much as possible and pushing myself to become a stronger driver.
“I’m grateful to everyone who continues to support me, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Chiesa added: “I have tracked Atiqa over the last two years. She has shown speed in both mini and big kart. She is one of the best female drivers around.
“Potentially, she has a big career ahead of her. She can even be better.
“You have to make the right move at the right moment, and don’t forget she is only 11. It is normal to be conservative, but she is someone special.”
Atiqa Mir has made a strong impression on the European karting circuit this season. She hopes to become the first female to reach Formula 1 since 1992.
She outqualified Mercedes F1 junior Niccolo Perico for pole position in Round 3 of the Champions of the Future Academy (COTFA) series in Italy.
In May, she also completed a historic sweep of COTFA Round 2 in Greece, further strengthening her growing reputation.
KR is a leading manufacturer of racing karts, with its Factory Racing Team having won more than 25 major international FIA Karting titles. These include 15 FIA European Karting Championships and 12 World Championships.
The team’s success has been built on technical preparation, professional race engineering and a focus on developing drivers for international competition.
Atiqa will begin her journey with KR at the FIA World Cup in Italy.
