Ajith Kumar opens up about racing comeback and looking beyond films

India Today

02-05-2025

Ajith Kumar passionately talked about his career as a racing driver and a team owner in an exclusive chat with India Today. He said that his racing comeback happened organically. The 'Vidaamuyarchi' actor spoke about being involved in a car crash in Dubai in February and how he has set specific goals for himself in his career as a racer. He also got candid about looking beyond films and pursuing different passions.advertisementSpeaking about his family and racing comeback, he stated, "Look at racing, I don't think it's fair on my part to be putting Shalini or my loved ones through this. I'm sure my family is worried, but my wife, Shalini also realises that racing is something I have been doing since I was very young. Even before I became an actor, it just happened organically. If you ask me how it happened, I can't pinpoint to any one particular moment. It was there at the back of my mind that I need to get back to racing. Of course, I am too old for single-seaters now."He also added, "Suddenly, the thought of taking part in the GT4 championships, European series, Endurance Series excited me. I then met with Fabian, my teammate and we put the team together. I'd probably say it was meant to happen."advertisement
When asked about the car crash during a practice session in February, Ajith Kumar said, "I find motor racing a lot more safer than driving on the roads, anywhere in the world. I am not talking about India, but anywhere in the world. The chances of you being involved in a road accident are a lot more than on a racetrack."Continuing further, he added, "If you look at motorsports, it's controlled - in the sense, like the cars are made to withstand the impact, protect the drivers and disintegrate to a point that the driver is still not affected by the crash. Then there are marshals who make sure that the car involved in the crash is cordoned off, and the other cars are not at risk. Only the medics are allowed to attend to you."Ajith was then asked if he ever thought that he wanted to make the country proud when he held the tricolour at the Dubai 24H championship. "I love motorsports. I don't want to fake it saying, 'Oh, I'm doing this to promote motorsports back home.' I'm pursuing something that I love very dearly," he explained. The 'Thunivu' actor stated that he feels happy when he is at the racetrack. "In the process, if it reaches the people and they start following the sport, it helps promote the sport in some way. Then, I'd be a very happy man. We have a lot of talented drivers in India. Look at what Naren Karthikeyan has achieved," he added.advertisementAjith also named some of the promising names in the sport. "Then there is Karun Chandhok, Jehan Daruwalla, Khush Maini, his brother Arjun Maini and Sai Sanjay. There are so many others who haven't gotten the opportunity to race in the European series because that's where people need to be. It's extremely competitive there. Due to lack of sponsorship and funds, they don't get opportunity," he remarked.The actor also predicted that sponsors would come and help the drivers in the next five years or a decade: "I'd like to take this opportunity to let corporate and sponsors know that motorsports need their support. I'm very confident that in the future, may be five years or a decade from now, India will definitely have an F1 world champion and not just in the single-seater format, even in endurance racing."Ajith Kumar also talked about being a driver and a team owner of Ajith Kumar Racing team. "It's very challenging to raise the funds, I hope, over the next couple of years, I achieve my goals. I've set a few goals for myself as a racing driver and a team owner. I have my teammates, Fabian, Mathew and Cameron, who are fantastic drivers. I have Mr Shiva Swaminathan, a very good friend of mine who has known me since I was 16, who is helping with the management of the team. Even the motorcycle touring company I started two years ago are doing well. I'm looking at life beyond films," he stated.Must Watch