Nine-Year-Old Arshi Is on the Fast Lane to Success

Chennai:Arshi Gupta is the only girl in the Mini Max category of the Meco National Karting Championship. But she isn’t there merely to make up the numbers — she is dominating the grid.

At the second round of the championship in Chennai, the nine-year-old from Faridabad produced a flawless weekend, sweeping Heat 1, Heat 2, the pre-final and the final, leaving her rivals in her wake. The way she scorched the 1.2-km circuit further enhanced her reputation as one of India's brightest young motorsport prospects.

Arshi already boasts an impressive CV. She became the first-ever girl to win the National Karting Championship (Micro Max class) last year, a feat that also earned her the FIA President's Medal. She is also the youngest-ever driver selected for the F1 Academy's Discover Your Drive (DYD) programme.

Soon after winning the second round of the National Karting Championship in Chennai, Arshi boarded a flight to France for testing as she prepares for the British Karting Championship and the Ultimate Karting Championships in the UK.

Arshi's mother, Deepti Gupta, a homeopathic physician, and father, Anchit Gupta, an engineer in the renewable energy business, take turns accompanying her to race tracks while ensuring life remains as normal as possible for their younger six-year-old daughter.

"It is a big juggling act for the entire family," said Deepti. "My younger one sacrifices a lot because she has to stay with just one parent at a time. Arshi spends practically half the year in the UK. She has already completed around 100 international track days in 2026 alone," she added.

The racing schedule leaves little room for a conventional childhood. Arshi studies at Delhi Public School, Faridabad, but attends school only for examinations. The rest of her education happens on flights, in hotel rooms and inside racing paddocks.

"She catches up on all her lessons while travelling and between her sessions. We want her to have the proper foundation. The balancing act has not affected her performance in the classroom," Deepti said.

Arshi's fascination with speed began almost as soon as she could ride a tricycle. "As a child, she loved vehicles. She would ride her tricycle so fast that we thought she would crash into a wall every time," Deepti recalled.

Her father's passion for Formula 1 prompted the family to take her to Delhi racer Rohit Khanna's Kartomania circuit in Gurgaon. "That's where we realised she had it in her to make a career out of racing. She then began competing in the Rotax Championship in 2024 before spending nearly five months in the UAE, racing in the IAME and Rotax championships, where she collected several podium finishes," Deepti added.

When she made her debut in the National Karting Championship, she was just seven years and five months old — the youngest participant in the Micro Max category. Her rapid improvement in the UAE, where she progressed from being among the back-runners to challenging at the front, convinced the family that she needed stronger competition.

"We realised she had to train further in the UK. We travelled the length and breadth of England, taking her to karting circuits to compete," she added.

The success, though, has come at a price. "We were ready to make any sacrifice because she showed so much commitment and determination. She was practically living out of a suitcase. Food was a big issue while travelling, but she never complained," Deepti said.

Arshi spent the winter months training in the UK, where temperatures dipped below zero and rain lashed the circuits.

"She would even get drenched completely, driving at nearly 100 kmph through freezing winds. She would literally freeze after every session," Deepti said.

“Even birthdays were no exception. We once gave her a choice. We told her we could take her to Cadbury World, but she chose to spend the day practising instead,” she added.

Watching Arshi sacrifice the simple joys of childhood is not always easy for her parents. "She is not doing what a normal nine-year-old girl does. Sometimes I feel bad that she misses out on school life and spending time with her friends. After races, she simply plays with the other children at the track," Deepti said.

Motorsport, of course, comes with its own dangers. The family's biggest scare came during Arshi's first major crash in the UK.

"I wasn't at the circuit. I was told her kart had overturned. She wasn't responding for four or five minutes. Fortunately, she escaped with bruises, a wrist injury and an ankle injury, but no fractures. We know the risks. We always make sure her safety gear is up to date and remind her to buckle up properly. She isn't a rash driver and makes clean overtakes. Beyond that, we have faith in God," Deepti said.

Arshi now races in the UK for Sam Pollitt Racing (SPR) under coach David Bellchambers, while continuing to divide her season between multiple championships. Her immediate target is clear — to win the Mini class championship and qualify for the Rotax World Finals in Portugal.

"The bigger dream lies further ahead. If shifting base to Europe becomes necessary, we'll do it. Right now, we're managing by travelling to and fro," Deepti said.

When she finally gets a quiet moment away from roaring engines, she turns to books. Arshi loves reading everything from comics to abridged English classics.