Formula 1

Indian Karting Talent Atiqa Mir Signs with Elite Kart Republic Team

  • Authored By: Sports Now
  • Updated Oct 12, 2026, 11:30 IST

Eleven-year-old Indian racing prospect Atiqa Mir has joined the prestigious Kart Republic team, a renowned development squad known for nurturing Formula 1 champions, as she continues her pursuit of a professional racing career.

Indian Karting Talent Atiqa Mir Signs with Elite Kart Republic Team

Indian karting sensation Atiqa Mir has secured a significant career milestone by signing with Kart Republic (KR), the elite racing outfit founded by Italian motorsport veteran Dino Chiesa. The 11-year-old, who hails from Srinagar, joins the team mid-season following a series of standout performances across European karting circuits that caught the attention of the legendary team principal.

Kart Republic is widely regarded as a premier launchpad for future Formula 1 talent. The team’s history of development includes working with world champions such as Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, as well as current F1 stars including Lando Norris, George Russell, and Oscar Piastri. By joining this high-performance environment, Mir gains access to the same technical expertise and professional engineering that has propelled numerous drivers to the pinnacle of global motorsport.

A Strategic Step Toward Formula 1 Ambitions

The move to Kart Republic is designed to support Mir’s progression into the OKJ category, which caters to drivers aged 12 to 14. Over the next two years, she will compete against elite international talent, a challenge that Chiesa believes she is well-equipped to handle. Reflecting on the signing, Chiesa noted that he has monitored the young driver’s progress for two years, highlighting her raw speed in both mini and full-sized karts as a key factor in her recruitment.

Expressing her enthusiasm for the new partnership, Mir described the opportunity as a dream come true. She remains focused on her long-term goal of becoming the first woman to reach Formula 1 since 1992. Her recent track record supports this ambition; earlier this year, she secured a clean sweep at the Champions of the Future Academy (COTFA) round in Greece and notably outqualified Mercedes F1 junior Niccolo Perico to claim pole position in Italy.

Building on a Proven Foundation

Kart Republic brings an extensive pedigree to the partnership, boasting over 25 major international FIA Karting titles, including 12 World Championships and 15 European Championships. The team’s focus on rigorous technical preparation and driver development is expected to be instrumental as Mir transitions into the next phase of her career.

The young driver is set to make her debut with the team at the upcoming FIA World Cup in Italy. As she prepares for this next challenge, the motorsport community continues to watch her development closely, with Chiesa emphasizing that while it is important to remain conservative given her age, her potential to achieve significant results for India remains a focal point of her trajectory.