The Beginning

Follow Formula 1? That's so cool!

Go to the local track and watch enthusiasts race? Wow, you must really love racing!

Race cars at local tracks? That's brave. You are a true motorhead!

Take your 110 horsepower daily drive out on a track with 450 horsepower mustangs with little to no knowledge about how to race? You must be crazy!

Yes, that's me!

Earlier this year, I decided to make the transition from long term spectator to race car driver. My "race car" though is my 10 year old Mini Cooper D, which isn't really set up for a track!

While the decision seems crazy, I like to think it wasn't all that crazy.

For starters, it has always bothered me that there are no female F1 drivers. Not Formula W - I mean Formula 1. As a kid, I believed only men were allowed to compete and it wasn't until recently that I realised women can compete in F1. Indeed in history, only 2 women have ever started in a Grand Prix race. While I'm certainly too old to ever compete at that level, grassroots motorsport is definitely within my reach. I have two motorsport loving kids and one of those two is a fearless little girl. She needs to know that girls can race, so that if she wants to, she can go for it!

My second reason, is why not! Growing up in India, motorsport wasn't really accessible to me. Speed has always been a passion of mine. Those who know me, know that I think fast, walk fast and even talk fast. Everything I do, I try to do faster and more efficiently. So now that I can actually follow my heart and race my Mini on a track, why wouldn't I!

The last reason for why this indulgence isn't as crazy as it seems, is because of how I chose to go about it. My focus this year is on learning to race as opposed to winning races. Most of us don't realise how different driving on a track is to road driving. Instead of splurging on a faster car, I am investing in making my slow car safer for the track and getting lessons.

I cannot wait to evolve as a more competent racer and some day "earn" that fast car.

Hope you enjoy traveling with me on this journey!

xoxo

Dark Racer.