For Formula 4 racer Sneha Sharma, the squealing tyres, burnt rubber and breakneck speed give her the ultimate thrill. So much so, that even after strong opposition from her family, she decided to live her dream of going behind the wheels in the racing circuit and stride ahead into the male-dominated field of motor sport. “It wasn’t an easy ride. But the thrill for speed is what helps me glide through the challenges of life – be it handling the bullying from male competitors in the racing track or lack of support from family,” says the 23-year-old, who was here in the city to participate in the 11th JK Tyre-FMSC National Karting Championship 2014 held at ‘HiFy’ go-karting arena. She was one of the two women participants who took part in the first national karting championship hosted in the city.
Uncommon as it is seeing women blazing the racing circuit, the two racers - Sneha Sharma and Mira Erda - spoke about their passion for speed and what keeps them going in a sport that has seen very few women take to the racing circuit.
Not someone who is bogged down by challenges, Sneha, now a pilot with IndiGo airlines, dived into motor-racing and flying at the age of 16 almost simultaneously. While she was studying to become a pilot, one of the national teams, Rayo Racing, approached her to take part in the national karting championship after they seeing her performance in a local racing event in Mumbai where she clocked the fastest lap of the day. Since then there was no looking back.
She was the only girl to win a spot at the JK Tyres 4-Stroke Karting Championship Season 2009 where she also secured a podium finish in her first Rotax rookie race. More recently, she secured a lap time of 40 seconds in the 11th JK Tyre-FMSC National Karting Championship 2014.
“It is very difficult to balance both the passions. I have to fly four sectors a day and also find time to pursue my racing passion. But both of these have given me a confidence that dreams do come true if you are determined enough to go after them,” says Sneha, who devotes six days a week for her fitness programmes which includes power yoga, running, swimming and core muscle strengthening exercises.
How difficult is it for women to get on the grid? Getting sponsorships is a big hurdle for women racers, she says. “It is a very expensive sport so I have to find sponsors to fulfil my racing dreams. Corporates must step forward to offer the support to women drivers,” says Sneha. What about issues on the racing circuit? “Yes, there is a lot of bullying from the boys who make sexist comments. At the end, it’s all a mind game and one has to be mentally strong. And when the helmet is on, I am only a racer,” she says.
Fourteen-year-old Mira Erda agrees with Sneha on this. “The boys get aggressive. They do their best to push me off the track. But I want to show the world that girls are no less in any way and we can be better than men in motorsports,” says the girl from Vadodara, who has been in the racing circuit ever since she was five years old. “I just love speed and my father supported my passion,” says Mira, who is the only female karting racer in India in the junior max category (13-16 years).
In her very first international race at Malaysia, she was 22nd in position with 105kmph, but was applauded for her driving nuances and spirit in finishing the race. Soon after that she grabbed her first international trophy at Sepang International Karting Circuit, in Malaysia. Later, Erda clocked the best lap time of 45.22 seconds bagging the runners-up spot in the micro max category of the JK Tyre Rotax Max National Karting Championship at the Kari Motor Speedway held in Coimbatore.
Her favourite in the racing world is Lewis Hamilton and when she is not in the racing circuit, she loves watching her other favourite - Shahrukh Khan’s films.
This Std IX student dreams of becoming India’s first Formula One female driver. “My ultimate dream is to race in Formula One, the top level motor sport where you can find the best racing drivers in the world. I want to push myself to be the best and race against the top drivers out there,” says Mira.
And the two hope that seeing them out on the track will inspire other young girls with a passion for driving to set off down this path breaking the stereotypical roles that women are confined to and two quote them: “Make your passion, your profession.”
