The Bengaluru girls are part of a 6-member team racing competitively, breaking stereotypes.
The JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship will have something special about it in this edition—an all-women’s racing team will be participating in the prestigious national motorsport event, for the first time.
What’s more, among the 6 women selected from a talent pool, Hansuja C, 16, and Priyamvada Saradhi, 27, are from Bengaluru.
So, who are these two promising young girls?
Speaking to the Bengaluru Mirror, Hansuja, a student of Class 11, said that her mother, who saw a Facebook post inviting entries for the race, was the one who brought it to her notice. The young girl only learnt how to drive a car a week before the competition.
While she was nervous when she saw her adversaries, she gave it her best shot and after completing her lap in 1 minute 30 seconds, was shortlisted in the top 60.
Unsatisfied with the timing, she tried again, and shaved off 8 seconds from her lap time, secured the fifth position and got selected. At 16, Hansuja is the youngest female racer to make it to the very first women’s national team. Hansuja also plays for the National Karnataka Girls Junior Football Team.
Priyamvada Saradhi, meanwhile, is a licensed Zumba instructor and has been racing cars and bikes for a while now. An avid rally, circuit and hill climbing enthusiast, she has been a navigator for the 4-wheeler National Rally Championship. She told the Mirror that she has been dabbling in various forms of motorsports in India, since 2009, keeping herself abreast with the motorsport activities happening in India. Thrilled to be a part of India’s first Women’s Racing Team, Priyamvada timed 1 minute 20.169 seconds in the trials to make the team.
Hansuja and Priyamvada will be joined by Lea Daran, Roshni, Megaa and Manisha Kelkar, a Marathi actress.
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What’s more, these ladies will be hitting the circuit with the men’s team, as motorsport is the only event where men and women compete together.
Well, we wish the ladies all the best, and hope they get the coveted podium finishes all racers desire!
(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)
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