Latest news with #FormulaRegionalMiddleEastChampionship
NDTV
2 days ago
- Automotive
- NDTV
After Formula 1, 10-Year-Old Indian Racing Prodigy Gets Backing From UAE-Based AKCEL GP
Atiqa Mir, the 10-year-old Indian karting prodigy, on Monday received another shot in the arm in her fast growing racing journey by securing a place in a professional motorsport development programme backed by UAE-based team AKCEL GP. AKCEL GP is a high-performance motorsport squad competing in FIA F4 and Formula Regional Middle East Championship besides FIA F3. Atiqa, who is based in Dubai, is also the first Indian to be supported directly by Formula 1, having earned a spot in F1 Academy's DYD program at the back of promising results on the global karting circuit. She has competed in some of the world's most prestigious karting championships, including the Rotax Euro Trophy, Rotax International Trophy, IAME Series (UAE and Europe), WSK Euro Series, WSK Super Master Series, and the Champions of the Future Academy. Atiqa's signing coincides with the launch of the AKCEL GP Academy. "The academy will serve as a cutting-edge training ground for the next generation of racing talent from the UAE and abroad," it said in a statement. The academy's inaugural batch will feature 15 promising young drivers and is committed to "offering a structured and competitive pathway beginning with elite karting championships and advancing through the ranks of single-seater racing." Reflecting on this new chapter in her journey, Atiqa said, "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 AKCEL Group, added, '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." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
News18
3 days ago
- Automotive
- News18
Child Prodigy Atiqa Mir To Be Part Of AKCEL GP Academy's Inaugural Batch
Mir will be part of 15 promising young drivers at the academy in the Dubai-based team's inaugural cohort. Indian racing prodigy Atiqa Mir will feature in the inaugural batch of the UAE-based team AKCEL GP's Academy as the ten-year-old takes another giant strike towards the automotive dream. Mir, the first Indian to earn a berth in F1 Academy's DYD program on the back of promising results on the global karting circuit, will be part of 15 promising young drivers at the new academy seeking to introduce the cutting edge of the motorsport world to the upcoming generation. AKCEL GP is a high-performance motorsport unit with a presence in FIA F4 and Formula Regional Middle East Championship in addition to FIA F3. 'Racing is everything to me. It's where I feel strong, fast, and free," the prodigy said. '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," she added. advetisement ALSO READ| Macron On Violence In Paris After PSG's UCL Win: 'Nothing Can Justify…' '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," Chairman of AKCEL Amit Kaushal said. 'The academy will serve as a cutting-edge training ground for the next generation of racing talent from the UAE and abroad," the team said. ALSO READ| French Police Detain Fans During PSG Champions League Triumph Celebrations Mir has competed in some of the world's most prestigious karting championships, including the Rotax Euro Trophy, Rotax International Trophy, IAME Series in UAE and Europe, WSK Euro Series, WSK Super Master Series, and the Champions of the Future Academy. AKCEL GP will support Atiqa in her progression from karting to single-seaters. First Published: June 02, 2025, 20:30 IST
Deccan Herald
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Deccan Herald
After Formula 1, 10-year-old Indian racing prodigy Atiqa Mir gets backing from UAE-based AKCEL GP
AKCEL GP is a high-performance motorsport squad competing in FIA F4 and Formula Regional Middle East Championship besides FIA F3.
Gulf Today
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Gulf Today
Dubai Autodrome set to host a packed motorsport season
Dubai Autodrome General Manager Faisal Al Sahlawi has said the new 2025-26 motorsport season will be one of its busiest after reflecting on an 'incredible' milestone campaign that attracted a record-breaking attendance at 24H Dubai during its 20th anniversary celebrations. Dubai Autodrome recently closed out its season after hosting more than 15 racing competitions over the last six months. Among the events that took place include the annual endurance motorsport competition, 24H Dubai, which saw more than 70 teams, including the largest GT3, as well as the fifth Asian Le Mans, Formula Regional Middle East Championship, Formula 4 Middle East Championship, Formula Woman Nations Cup and other several regional motorsport events. Furthermore, the venue held more than 80 motorcycle and car track days, and 20 roll racing events for the local community. The season was part of Dubai Autodrome's 20th anniversary, which was celebrated at the 24H Dubai, and Sahlawi believes the upcoming season which will start in October solidifies the venue as a leading destination for motorsport and entertainment in the region. He said: 'We are very pleased with the recent motorsport season, which coincided with the 20-year celebrations of Dubai Autodrome. Overall, there was exciting and competitive racing on the track with bigger grids and an array of top international and regional drivers in action, while off the track, there was a record number of spectators for the 24H Dubai with more than 30,000 attendees for this flagship event. This shows that motorsport is growing in the UAE and is going from strength to strength, which bodes well for the future.' He added: 'Planning is already underway for the new 2025-26 season, and it will be one of the busiest seasons at Dubai Autodrome, as we have the Gulf Historic back, where iconic 1960s cars and historic F1 cars from the 70s and 80s will all be on display, as well as top racing on the track. 'There will also be four international races, including the 24H Dubai, and an array of top regional and local motorsport competitions where we expect to have a greater number of participants during the course of the season.' Off the track, Dubai Autodrome's motorsport season is also contributing to the country's economic growth. Al Sahzlawi said: 'Overall, we had approximately more than 55,000 people be part of our motorsport events from race teams, drivers, and officials, and that saw airlines, hotels and hospitality services benefit greatly, especially with their families and friends also travelling. 'Not only are we pleased to be playing our part to support the UAE's growth beyond the motorsport races but is also a testament to the success of Union Properties' vision of enhancing Dubai Autodrome's position as a leading motorsport hub in the region.'
What's On
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- What's On
Motorsport and Legacy-Building: Meet AKCEL Group founder Amit Kaushel
Sponsored: A powerhouse… Amit Kaushal began his career in Dubai in the late 1990s before expanding into the UK and beyond. Today, as chairman, he heads up the global AKCEL Group, a diversified business spanning IT, real estate, investments, and now motorsport. In a recent podcast, Kaushal speaks about his company's push into the world of formula racing with AKCEL GP, the group's branded real estate venture with BNW Developments, and his ambition to build a legacy that leads all the way to Formula One. Before we get into the motorsport side of things, tell us more about AKCEL Group. It's quite a diversified business: can you paint a picture for our audience? Of course. Firstly, thank you for having me. AKCEL Group is built around the concept of transforming aspiration into legacy. That idea is embedded in the name itself: 'A' stands for Aspiration , 'K' for Knowledge , 'C' for Clarity and Consistency , 'E' for Excellence , and 'L' for Legacy . So it's not just a name — it's a journey. In terms of the business, we're a global conglomerate. Our roots are in IT — specifically consulting and training — and we operate in India, the UK, the US, Ireland, and Dubai. We also own Jetking, which has over 100 IT training centres in India. We've recently entered real estate in the UAE through a branded residence partnership with BNW. Our first flagship project will launch on Dubai Islands, followed by an expansion into Ras Al Khaimah. That's a huge step for us. Then, there's motorsport — which is giving global visibility to our brand. We're proud to be the first Indian-origin group to own a racing team in this space. It's a major milestone, especially for the wider South Asian community. And finally, we have an investment arm that focuses on alternative assets — everything from angel investing to venture capital. So AKCEL Group is built on four key pillars: IT, real estate, motorsport, and investments. I personally left India around 25 years ago. I started my journey in Dubai back in 1998, then moved to the UK in 2000. And now, life is bringing me full circle — back to Dubai, which has always had a special place in my heart. Can you tell us more about AKCEL GP and why did you decide to launch it now? AKCEL GP is our motorsport arm, and we've just completed our first season here in the Middle East, competing in Formula 4 and the Formula Regional Middle East Championship. We even made it to a few podiums. The idea started in Dubai when I met our team principal, Rohit Kaul, a former Formula driver. We shared a common vision, and we realised there's very little South Asian representation in global motorsport. That inspired us. We wanted to create a platform to nurture young talent and eventually compete in Formula One. We pulled everything together in just nine months and launched at the Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa in January 2025. Our drivers come from diverse backgrounds — India, the UK, Romania — and we're proud to support the Al Qubaisi family too. Amna and Hamda Al Qubaisi are now our brand ambassadors and sit on our advisory board. They're pioneers in UAE motorsport and have been a huge support. You've decided to make the UAE your global base — tell us why. Dubai is where I began my journey, and strategically it makes perfect sense. It's now at the centre of global conversations, whether it's sports, tech, AI, crypto, real estate or investment. Everything is converging here. Logistically, it's also ideal for managing operations across both the Indian subcontinent and Europe. For us, it's not just home: it's a launchpad. The business of motorsports is quite complex — it's not just what we see on track. What have you learned so far? A lot! We started with a technical partner, but now we're building our own in-house technical team for our European F4 and FRACA campaigns. That gives us better control, allows us to build in-house performance models, and elevate our drivers. We're also setting up a second base in Milan, Italy to manage the April to October European racing season. After that, we'll compete in Macau and return to the UAE for the 2026 season. Every person on the team — from our technical director Matthew Norman, to logistics and operations — plays a critical role. It's a true team sport behind the scenes. Do you attend every race yourself? I try to attend as many as possible, but our team principal Rohit Kaul leads the operations on the ground. My role is more strategic: managing partnerships, sponsor relations, and ensuring smooth execution throughout the season. Sponsors are crucial. Who are some of your key partners? We're fortunate to have a great mix. BNW Developments is one of our lead partners. Gulf Business is on our car too — which we're very proud of. We also have Century Financial, and LifeCoin as sponsors. Each one plays an important role in the ecosystem we're building. You're competing in Formula 4 and Formula Regional — can you explain the difference? F4 is the first major step after go-karting — the entry point into the Formula ladder. From F4, drivers move to FR (Formula Regional), which is more powerful and covers specific regions — we just raced across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Jeddah. After FR, drivers can progress to F3, F2 and ultimately F1 — the dream. The difference lies in engine power, car weight and complexity. But every step is crucial. You mentioned AKCEL Academy: what is its role in terms of your overarching approach to motorsport? The Academy supports the entire talent pipeline. We identify young drivers early. One of our drivers started go-karting at four and is now eight, and is already a champion from Singapore. We also have a focus on inclusivity. For example, we've reserved one seat for a female driver, and we're proud to support Hamda and Amna Al Qubaisi. We're also planning an announcement in Barcelona to enter the endurance-based Le Mans series with them. And we're supporting Atika, the first Indian female driver to enter an F1 Academy. She's an inspiration. So what's next for AKCEL GP in the next five to ten years? The short-term focus is to strengthen our presence in F4, F3, and F2. Simultaneously, we're scaling our Academy and merging racing with IT and engineering. The long-term aspiration is to reach Formula One and to see our driver on the F1 podium one day. That's the vision, and we're fully committed to it.
