10-year-old Indian racing prodigy joins UAE’s AKCEL GP Academy in major career boost

In a significant development for Indian motorsport, 10-year-old karting prodigy Atiqa Mir has secured a spot in a premier motorsport development program supported by the UAE-based racing team AKCEL GP.

The announcement marks another major milestone in Atiqa's rapidly rising racing career.

Currently based in Dubai, Atiqa has made waves on the international karting scene, becoming the first Indian to receive direct backing from Formula 1 through the F1 Academy’s “Discover Your Drive” (DYD) initiative. Her consistent performance across elite karting championships has now earned her a place in the newly launched AKCEL GP Academy — an institution dedicated to nurturing future motorsport stars.

The academy, which aims to serve as a high-tech training hub, will groom a select group of 15 young drivers from the UAE and around the world. Its structured curriculum is designed to guide talent from elite karting levels to single-seater racing categories such as FIA F4, Formula Regional Middle East Championship, and eventually FIA F3 — all competitive formats in which AKCEL GP actively participates.

Atiqa has already made her mark in some of the most respected karting events globally, including the Rotax Euro Trophy, Rotax International Trophy, IAME Series in both the UAE and Europe, WSK Euro Series, WSK Super Master Series, and the Champions of the Future Academy.

Speaking about her new journey, Atiqa expressed her excitement and ambition: "Racing is everything to me. It's where I feel strong, fast, and free. Joining AKCEL GP Academy is a dream come true, and I want to show young girls like me from Dubai and India that we can compete at the highest levels. One day, I hope to race in Formula 1, and I'm ready to work hard to get there."

Amit Kaushal, Group Chairman of the AKCEL Group, praised Atiqa’s extraordinary promise: “Atiqa's talent, focus, and composure on track are well beyond her years. Over the next 15 years, we're committed to guiding her development from karting to single-seaters, as she grows into a world-class racer and future F1 contender."