Indian Karting Sensation Atiqa Mir Signs with Kart Republic

In a move that feels almost cinematic, 11‑year‑old Srinagar‑born racer Atiya (Atiqa) Mir has officially joined Kart Republic (KR), the Italian‑run karting stable famed for grooming F1 talent. The announcement, made from Singapore on October 12, caught the attention of fans and pundits alike.

KR’s owner, veteran Dino Chiesa, is a name that rings loudly in the world of single‑seater racing. Over the past two decades he’s worked with the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Lando Norris and the current prodigy Kimi Antonelli. When Chiesa’s scouts saw Mir tearing up the European karting circuits, he didn’t hesitate – “she has raw speed, she’s one of the best female drivers around, and at just 11 she’s already special,” he said in a press brief.

For Mir, the switch to KR mid‑season is more than a contract; it’s a launchpad. The team will field her in the OKJ class – a fiercely competitive category for 12‑to‑14‑year‑olds – over the next two years. There she’ll be side‑by‑side with some of the globe’s sharpest youngsters, learning the same technical rigor and race‑craft that have propelled past KR alumni to the pinnacle of motorsport.

“It feels like a dream finally materialising,” Mir gushed in a short interview. “I can’t wait to work with the team, soak up everything they teach and push myself harder. I’m grateful for all the support I’ve gotten so far.”

Mir’s résumé is already impressive. Earlier this year she shocked the field by out‑qualifying Mercedes F1 junior Niccolò Perico for pole at the third round of the Champions of the Future Academy (COTFA) in Italy. In May she swept the COTFA round in Greece, adding a historic double to her name.

Kart Republic, a global manufacturer of racing karts, backs its drivers with a blend of cutting‑edge engineering, meticulous data analysis and a relentless focus on driver development. The factory team alone boasts more than 25 major FIA titles – 15 European championships and 12 world crowns.

Looking ahead, Mir has set her sights on a lofty target: becoming the first woman to reach Formula 1 since 1992. With KR’s resources and Chiesa’s mentorship, that ambition suddenly seems a little less far‑off.

Her first outing with the new team will be at the FIA World Cup in Italy, a fitting stage for a rider whose career is already racing ahead of many seasoned competitors.