Atiqa Mir, 9, only Asian karter shortlisted for Iron Dames new Young Talents Initiative

Atiqa Mir, a 9-year-old racing prodigy from India, has been selected as one of the 11 girls worldwide for the inaugural selection process of the Iron Dames's Young Talents initiative. The Switzerland-based all-women motorsports team aims to identify and nurture young female kart racers aged between eight and 13 who aspire to pursue a career in motorsport.
Among the shortlisted candidates, Atiqa stands out as the sole Asian karter and the youngest participant. The first selection round is scheduled to take place on July 29-30 in Franciacorta, Italy.
The Iron Dames have made significant strides in the world of endurance racing, including becoming "the first all-female team to win a race in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2023." The Young Talents initiative is set to groom the next generation of female racing stars under their guidance.
“I’m truly honoured to be shortlisted for the Iron Dames Young Talent selection process. It motivates me further to perform and improve my skills as a driver. I will work hard and prepare myself better than ever to come out on top in the selections and make India proud," said Atiqa.
Atiqa was selected from a long list of applicants from all over the world who were shortlisted based on various parameters. Each entry was meticulously reviewed by the Iron Dames detection cell, which assessed the candidates based on their passion, determination, motorsport background, and the strength of their career aspirations.
The selected participants represent a diverse range of nationalities, reflecting the global reach and inclusive spirit of the Iron Dames project.
All the shortlisted candidates will be evaluated through rigorous scouting events, which include parameters like their driving skills, commitment, work ethic, and ability to reflect the Iron Dames' values and attitude.
“Atiqa is a regular participant in our MECO FMSCI National Karting Championship -- Rotax Max. We congratulate her on this achievement and wish her the very best for the selection rounds,” said V.S Shrikant, Deputy Secretary General of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India.
The evaluation will be conducted with the support of experts from the Italy-based PREMA Racing motorsport team. Exceptional talents discovered through this process will have the opportunity to join the Iron Dames family, benefiting from personalized development programmes, mentorship from seasoned motorsport professionals, and access to top-tier training facilities.
Atiqa is the reigning IAME UAE National Vice-Champion and also has multiple victories and titles to her name in different parts of the world. Atiqa recently competed in the MECO RMC Indian National Karting Championship and finished Runner-up in Round 1. Atiqa will be in India again this weekend driving for MSPORT in Round 2 at MECO Kartopia Track in Bengaluru.