The young Indian racer joins JK Tyre as the company looks to support the next
generation of motorsport talent on the international stage.
JK Tyre has signed 11-year-old karting sensation Atiqa Mir, adding one of India’s
most promising young racing talents to its long-standing motorsport
programme.
Mir has already built an impressive international record despite her age,
competing in prominent karting championships across Europe and the Middle
East. She is currently ranked the world’s No. 1 female karter in the OKNJ
category according to the FIA International Karting Ranking (IKR).
Her 2026 season has been particularly notable. Mir became the first Indian to
secure a podium in the European leg of the Champions of the Future Academy,
before claiming a dominant victory in Greece. In doing so, she became only the
third driver in the series’ history to sweep qualifying, the heats and the final.
More recently, Mir became the youngest Indian to record two top-10 finishes in
the FIA European Karting Championship, widely regarded as the pinnacle of
international karting and a key stepping stone towards single-seater racing.
Mir’s progress also comes against the backdrop of increasing female
participation in motorsport. She was the first Indian and Asian female racer
selected for Formula 1 Academy’s Discover Your Drive programme, which aims
to identify and encourage young female racing talent.
The association has a personal significance for Mir, whose father was also
supported by JK Tyre during his racing career.
“It is a very special feeling to join JK Tyre. My dad was also supported by JK Tyre
during his racing days,” Mir said. “I’m excited for this journey and look forward
to learning, improving and representing India and JK Tyre on the international
stage.”
For JK Tyre, the partnership continues a motorsport legacy spanning more than
three decades. The company’s racing and karting programmes have served as a
launchpad for several Indian drivers, including Narain Karthikeyan, Karun
Chandhok, Armaan Ebrahim and Kush Maini, who subsequently progressed onto
the international stage.
“Atiqa represents the next generation of Indian racing, and we are delighted to
support her as she pursues excellence on the global stage,” said Anshuman
Singhania, Managing Director, JK Tyre & Industries.
The partnership also signals JK Tyre’s continued emphasis on developing young
drivers and broadening opportunities for women in Indian motorsport, with Mir
now taking her next steps towards a potential career in international racing.
