In a remarkable display of skill and determination, 11-year-old
This impressive achievement follows her dominant performance in Round 2 of the COTFA series in Greece last month, where she swept the competition. After qualifying first, Atiqa continued to demonstrate her prowess by finishing second and third in the subsequent heats, engaging in fierce battles with her rivals.
Challenges in the Final
During the final race, Atiqa began in second place and quickly overtook Niccolo Perico to take the lead. Unfortunately, an engine misfire hindered her ability to maintain her position, causing her to drop back in the ranks before ultimately finishing in sixth place. Despite the setback, her initial move for the lead on the first lap highlighted her remarkable speed and competitive spirit.
On the second day of the event, Atiqa faced further challenges as engine troubles relegated her to a 27th place qualifying position. Although the organizers swiftly replaced her engine, the damage was already done. Nevertheless, she mounted a valiant recovery, advancing through the field in each heat to start the final race from 18th on the grid.
Reflecting on the Experience
In the final, Atiqa made an impressive charge, overtaking nine karts within just one and a half laps. However, her race came to an abrupt end when a collision with another driver forced her out of contention, although the offending driver received a penalty for the incident. Reflecting on her rollercoaster weekend, Atiqa expressed mixed emotions, stating, “It was a bittersweet weekend for me, but I was able to show my pace against the world's best and beat them.”
Her father, Asif Mir, who holds the title of India’s first national karting champion, praised her performance despite the challenges faced. “Atiqa had a stellar weekend and set the event record at Viterbo. The results don’t show the true picture. The DNF in the final was heartbreaking, but she is a strong girl and will recover soon,” he remarked. Atiqa is set to compete again in Sweden later this month, where she hopes to build on her recent experiences.
