Top Indian Women Racers Speeding Up on Social Media

You all would be saying and having an impression that motorsport is a male-dominated sport. Let me clarify: just because it’s mostly men doesn’t mean women can’t be part of it, right? For your clarity, there’s no shortage of talented, resolute, and strong women who have proved racing has no gender. Keep aside all the trolls and memes on women’s riding and driving and read further about Indian Women Racers for your ‘Gyana Bulb’ to enlighten!

Mira Erda

Mira Erda is just 21 years old. She is the first Indian woman to race in the Euro JK series. Mira began her career in national Karting and has also represented India in the Formula 4 series internationally. Mira is the first Indian female to compete in the Euro JK Series and also a Red Bull Racer. She started racing when she was 9 years old. Her first professional race was in the JK Tyre Rotax Max National Karting Championship. In 2014, she shifted to race the Formula LGB class cars, becoming the youngest female driver in that category. Later, in 2017, she made history by becoming the first Indian woman to participate in the JK Euro Series.

Mira achieved a milestone by winning her first international podium in the Formula 4 series in 2019. In addition to her racing, she opened a training academy in her hometown to mentor young girls aspiring to be racers. She wants them to make a career in motorsport.

Mira has a substantial social media presence, with 34.1K followers on Instagram, 2.4K on X, and 13K on Facebook.

Aashi Hanspal

Aashi Hanspal started racing at just 17 years old. She entered the world of motorsports in early 2019 when she joined the Rayo Racing Academy at the Ajmera Indikarting Circuit in Mumbai. Currently, she represents Team MSPORT. In mid-2022, she took a big step forward by moving into Car Racing and is now testing Formula-4 single-seater cars.

Aashi’s goal is to break through the patriarchal barriers in the male-dominated world of motorsports. She aims to become the leading Indian woman in prestigious racing events like the Formula Racing Series and the W-Series. On multiple occasions, she raised the Indian flag on international tracks. She admires Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, her favourite F1 drivers, and her favourite F1 teams are Ferrari and McLaren.

One of her most memorable moments was in October 2020, when she participated in the Shootout for the FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars Program at Circuit Paul Ricard in France. It was a proud moment for Aashi as she became the first and only Indian woman to make it to the final selection among the top 20 girls globally.

Aashi Hanspal has 16.5K followers on Instagram and 1.2K on Facebook and is just getting started on X.

Salva Marjan

Salva Marjan was born on July 24, 1999, and hails from Perambra, a rural area in Kozhikode, Kerala. She comes from a supportive family, with her father Chembra Panachingal Kunjamu, mother Subaida, and siblings Sahla, Sinan, and Sabith. Salva is a Business Management graduate who began her professional motorsports journey in 2018. At 25 years old, Salva is all set to become the first woman from Kerala to join the Formula 1 Academy in January 2025. Despite facing financial and societal challenges, her success in motorsports, particularly in the F4 championships, showcases her talent and determination.

Salva started her professional racing career in 2018, making an impact quickly. She began with Formula LGB racing in India and moved on to compete in the F4 Indian and F4 UAE championships in 2023. Her performance has been remarkable, completing 119 successful laps out of 150. She is also the brand ambassador for Next Level Racing, which offers some financial support for her training. Being selected for the F1 Academy would ease her financial struggles and help her establish a place in global racing. Salva’s ultimate goal is to represent India in Formula 1 and inspire the next generation of female racers.

On social media, she has 61.6K followers on Instagram and is just beginning her journey on Facebook.

Aishwarya Pissay 

Aishwarya Pissay was born on August 14, 1995, and she is an Indian motorcycle racer who competes in both circuit and off-road events. She made history by becoming the first Indian motorsports athlete to win a world title. Aishwarya participated in the FIM Bajas World Cup, winning 1st place in the women’s category and 2nd in the junior category. She is also the first Indian woman to win 7 FMSCI National titles, including six consecutive Indian National Rally Championships (INRC – 2w) from 2017 onwards.

Aishwarya began racing at 18, starting with small road trips around her hometown of Bengaluru and learning to ride bikes. This passion grew into a profession as she won national titles in Road Racing and Rally Championships, including consecutive INRC wins from 2017 to 2022. 2018, she became the first Indian woman to compete in Spain’s Baja Aragon World Rally.

In recognition of her achievements, Aishwarya was awarded the TiE Young Achiever of the Year in 2016 and the Outstanding Women in Motorsports Award by FMSCI in 2016 and 2017. She also received the Sports Woman of the Year Award from Autotrack Magazine.

Aishwarya’s Instagram has 86.1K followers, 58K on Facebook, and 2.3K on X. You can also connect with her on LinkedIn!

Diana Pundole

Diana Pundole was born on August 15, 1993, in Pune, Maharashtra, and is an Indian racing driver from a Parsi family. She completed her M.A. in English in 2015. Diana was the first Indian woman to win a National Championship in General Indian motorsports, where female drivers compete equally with male drivers. On August 18, 2024, she won the National title in the MRF MMSC Fascia Indian National Car Racing Championship 2024 in the saloon cars class at the Madras International Circuit, near Chennai.

Diana participated in the nationwide Talent Hunt for ‘Women in Motorsport’ organized by JK Tyres in Coimbatore. Out of about 200 participants, she was selected in the top six and received a fellowship for a free drive in the JK Tyre National Racing Championship. She competed in the championship in 2018 and 2019. In 2021, she joined the Volkswagen Polo Cup championship in Chennai, and in 2023, she moved up to the MRF Saloon Cars National Championship. In 2024, after six years of hard work, she won the National Championship in Saloon cars, with multiple wins, fastest laps, and pole positions.

Diana has 17.2K followers on Instagram. Check out her X account and Facebook, too!

Pragathi Gowda

Pragathi Gowda is a Bengaluru rally driver who won the Junior Indian National Rally Championship in 2022, the FIA RallyStar Asia Pacific title in 2022, and the Indian National Gymkhana Championship in 2019. In 2023, she became the only Indian to reach the World Women’s Finals. At 26, Pragathi’s achievements include being the 2022 Junior Indian National Rally Champion, winning the Asia-Pacific Rally Star Cup, and being named the reserve driver for the FIA Rally Star in the JWRC in 2023.

She has 118K followers on Instagram and 1K on Facebook, and you can also connect with her on LinkedIn.

These Indian women have been racing and crossing borders in motorsports, proving their worth and showing talent knows no gender. Whether in national rallies, circuit racing, or cross-country championships, these women are paving the way for the next generation of girl racers.

Follow us and them on social media to stay updated on their incredible journeys, get inspired, and promote the presence of women in motorsports!