“Don’t name me a lady racer; only a racer.”
That is the dream that 16-year-old Shriya Lohia, a category 11 scholar, is chasing as she hopes to make a mark in motorsport. On the age of 9, Shriya was cruising at 110 kmph on go-karts; at age 15, she was whizzing previous at speeds of over 210 kmph on the Indian F4 championships.
Shriya’s ardour for racing ignited throughout a household journey to Panchangani in Maharashtra. She had her first driving expertise on a go-kart meant for teenagers aged six and above; she wasn’t chasing a dream or searching for a profession, it was only a enjoyable exercise at a rental karting monitor.
However by the point the journey ended, Shriya had an specific declaration for her mother and father: “I wish to be a racing driver.”
Street to Indian F4 Championship
“I had tried virtually each sport rising up,” Shriya tells The Higher India, itemizing tennis, basketball, swimming, and badminton amongst her many pursuits. “However racing was totally different. I knew instantly that this was what I wished to do.”
And to assist Shriya cruise down her street to success, her proud mother and father, Ritesh and Vandana Lohia, determined to go away no stone unturned.
“I’ve all the time liked journey sports activities and when Shriya confirmed curiosity in the direction of racing, I made a decision to assist her wholeheartedly,” Ritesh says.
Quickly, Shriya and her household, who had been residing in Pune on the time, began searching for karting coaching centres and realised there have been extra established arenas in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
In 2018, on the age of 9, Shriya began her coaching in skilled karting in Bengaluru. “I used to journey for these coaching periods from Pune to Bangalore, which was bodily tiring,” she shares.
“When she returned residence from coaching, she rested a full day. That’s how a lot her physique was exhausted from the journey and coaching,” Jiya Lohia, Shriya’s sister, recollects.
Not like different sports activities, the coaching patterns and standards for karting differ. “Earlier than you may take part in any championship, it’s important to practice for 2 to a few days earlier than the occasion after which participate in it,” she explains.
In 2018, she debuted within the Rotax Max India Karting Championship with Birel ART in India, ending fourth within the Micro Max class. The subsequent few years noticed her proceed her journey in karting, profitable the Federation of Motor Sports activities Golf equipment of India’s (FMSCI) Excellent Girls in Motorsports’ award for 4 consecutive years.
In 2023, her arduous work made her the youngest feminine to race and rating factors within the inaugural Indian F4 Championship, representing Hyderabad Blackbirds.
“We didn’t even know what go-karting was earlier than that street journey,” she laughs.
Overtaking monetary difficulties
Motorsports is an costly subject and comes with its personal monetary constraints. “Every championship price round Rs 5-7 lakh, and the racing gear alone was a major funding,” Ritesh explains.
To handle, her household had been thoughtful of Shriya’s ardour, and accommodated the household’s monetary selections accordingly. “It turns into very tough at occasions, however we’re grateful that we had been in a position to handle by some means, as I by no means wished the financial facet to hinder my daughter’s journey in the direction of racing,” Ritesh says.
“Most drivers examined each weekend, however even two periods earlier than a race had been an enormous deal for us,” Shriya recollects.
However her willpower remained unshaken. “I learnt to take advantage of each lap on the monitor.”
After being within the sport for one and a half years, Shriya discovered her first sponsor, marking a turning level in her life.
“It was an enormous aid for my household,” she says, including, “With out sponsorships, it’s virtually inconceivable to self-fund your self.”
“I really feel like she has this guilt of being a monetary hurdle for the household, however now we have by no means thought of it from that perspective. We’re simply completely satisfied to be part of her ardour in the direction of racing, one thing she places her coronary heart and soul into,” shares Jiya.
‘I give attention to being the perfect racer’
With over 120 races and eight awards to her identify, Shriya is step by step edging in the direction of fulfilling her dream. However her journey comes with a further constraint: “There’s a whole lot of scrutiny as a feminine racer.”
“After I overtake male opponents, they typically get agitated, as if being crushed by a lady is unacceptable,” she says, including that it has typically led to aggressive on-track behaviour from her friends. “Generally they wreck my race and expertise on the monitor.”
“Already, I’m apprehensive that my daughter is driving on the velocity of 240. The stereotypical therapy makes me livid,” Ritesh provides.
However Shriya has learnt to rise above it. “I don’t let it have an effect on me. I give attention to being the perfect racer I may be, not only a feminine racer.”
“The mentality is altering through the years,” she says. “As extra ladies enter the game, it’ll develop into normalised. However for now, us on this technology, we’re paving the best way for future feminine racers.”
Juggling lecturers
Whereas Shriya excels on the monitor, it’s essential to recollect she’s nonetheless simply 16, an age sometimes dedicated to lecturers. And to make sure Shriya doesn’t miss out on a great training, her mother and father have opted to homeschool her.
“I give equal consideration to racing and research as a result of I understand how essential each are to me,” she asserts. “Though I’ve much less time now, I cowl my parts throughout off-racing intervals so issues don’t pile up.”
That mentioned, Shriya acknowledges the trade-offs. “Generally I miss most youngsters’ common faculty life. However I additionally know what I’m pursuing is particular and uncommon.”
Shriya’s journey in motorsport has earned her important accolades. She obtained the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar in 2022, an honour she describes as a milestone for her and the game.
“Motorsport isn’t extensively recognised in India, so being acknowledged by the Prime Minister was an enormous step ahead,” she says. “It provides hope to racers like me that our efforts are being seen.”
As she continues to race, Shriya stays steadfast in her objective: reaching Components 1 and representing India on the worldwide stage. “Motorsport is a troublesome subject, however I’m prepared to offer it my all,” she says.
With each lap she completes and each barrier she breaks, she’s not simply racing in the direction of her dream but in addition inspiring a technology to problem stereotypes. “Focus in your objectives and don’t take heed to the naysayers. Your expertise and dedication will communicate louder than any criticism,” she asserts.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee; All pictures courtesy Shriya Lohia
