Although India is yet to win a major global motorsports event, there have been a few moments of joy and pride for the fans.
India, despite gaining independence in 1947, lacks in several sports compared to other countries. Except for cricket, growth has not been substantial in football, athletics, and even motorsports. What’s truly saddening is that motorsports in India began as early as 1904, even before the country gained independence.
Fortunately, there have been a few instances when Indian racers made a mark for themselves in global motorsports. Although not long-lasting, they are crucial milestones in India’s motorsports history, which is closely tied to the country's automotive history.
(Credit- The New Indian Express)
Still considered the fastest Indian, Narain Karthikeyan was the first Indian to venture into the world of Formula One with the Jordan team in 2005. No surprise that his F1 stint wasn’t fruitful, but the Indian racer raced in 49 races with 13 retirements and 13 DNFs.
(Credit - IB Times)
A British team, but with an Indian license, Vijay Mallya, along with Dutch businessman Michiel Mol, acquired the Spyker F1 team and renamed it Force India in 2008. The team did not win any championships but stood on the podium on six different occasions. It even finished fourth in the Constructors’ Championship two consecutive times in 2016 and 2017, which was brilliant for a new team considered an underdog.
A talented Indian in the Formula 2 space, Jehan Daruvala has won multiple podium finishes in his F2 career, including a second-place finish in Monaco. He even got the opportunity to test the McLaren F1 car in 2022.
(Credit -Indulge Express)
In Formula 1, 2, and 3, the racer who comes first has their country’s national song played when they stand on the podium. Nobody thought the Indian national anthem would be played someday, but it happened in May 2025 when Kush Maini won the sprint race of the Monaco Grand Prix. The Indian national anthem echoed in the hills of Monaco.
(Credit- Red Bull)
The toughest rally in the world, the Dakar Rally, has also seen significant achievements from India. In 2024, Harith Noah became the first Indian to win the Rally 2 class. This year, Sanjay Takale became the first Indian to win the rally in the classic cars category. In 2015, CS Santhosh created history by becoming the first Indian to participate in the Dakar Rally. The journey has been slow, but India is showing growth in rally sports.
One of the finest actors from Tamil cinema, Ajith Kumar, has also been an avid racer who now owns a team named Ajith Kumar Racing. He is not only the owner but also races in various events. The team has secured multiple racing podiums worldwide, including the 12H Mugello and Dubai 24H.
India still has a long way to go, and the only way forward is immense support from the government and investments from millionaires and billionaires. For example, Vijay Mallya may be a troublesome character, but as a racer himself, he had a vision for India in motorsports—he put India on the world map of Formula One.
