Atiqa Mir marks major milestone in Europe, becomes first Indian to secure podium

Racing sensation Atiqa Mir has etched her name in history as the first Indian to secure a podium finish in the European leg of the Champions of the Future Academy (COTFA) karting series . The 11-year-old prodigy finished third in the final of the opening round, marking her biggest achievement since moving up from the mini category to OKNJ (junior) racing .

Atiqa, the first Indian supported by the F1 Academy , displayed remarkable skill and determination throughout the weekend. She set the fastest lap in the final , though a slow driver in qualifying saw her drop from a potential pole position to ninth on the grid . Undeterred, Atiqa stormed through Race 1 to finish P3 and claimed P2 in Race 2, securing a strong third-place start for the final 15-lap showdown at the high-speed Lucas Guerrero Circuit .

In a thrilling finale, Atiqa held second place for much of the race, engaging in a tense battle with the leaders. On the last lap, she made a daring move around the outside of the notorious final corner chicane. While a post-race penalty dropped her to third, the feat still represented a record finish for an Indian in the European series .

Day two of the weekend brought further challenges. A slow driver in qualifying again hampered her chances of pole position, forcing her to start seventh on the grid . Despite being pushed off the circuit in Race 1, Atiqa recovered to finish ninth , and in Race 2, she crossed the line in victory , only to be denied by another post-race penalty.

Reflecting on her performance, Atiqa said, “I didn’t want to settle for third. Like Ayrton Senna said, if you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver. It was risky, but it paid off. I’m proud to have the India flag on the podium.”

Her father, Asif Mir , India’s first national karting champion, lauded her weekend. “An outstanding debut in the OKNJ category. She adapted quickly to a new circuit and displayed great speed. Even with the penalties, the overtakes she made were remarkable.”