Diana Drives Her Way into Ferrari History

There was no announcement, no theatrics. Just speed. With a measured focus, Diana Pundole became the first Indian woman to race a Ferrari on the international stage. “I’ve always chased lap times, not attention,” she says. For the Indian motorsport racer, racing globally was never about spectacle. “It was about precision, discipline and tracking my own progress. Somewhere between Yas Marina and Bahrain, expectation quietly turned into proof.”

Pundole, who hails from Pune, Maharashtra, is no stranger to breaking barriers. She previously made history as the first Indian woman to win a national championship in Indian motorsport, competing on equal footing with male drivers. Her racing journey began in 2018 through the JK Tyre Women in Motorsport programme.

“Being on the grid at Yas Marina, surrounded by world-class cars, was surreal,” she recalls. Her debut at the Ferrari Club Challenge Middle East unfolded under the floodlights of Yas Marina. Finishing fourth in her very first international race set the tone. Bahrain soon reinforced it. “On a track I had never raced before, finishing second shocked me in the best way,” she admits.

A Classroom, Not a Coronation

“I entered the championship with no expectations,” she says. “This was always meant to be a learning ground.”

The Middle East circuits were far more technical than anything she had raced in India. Yet when her coach radioed in to say she was second, pride arrived unannounced. “That moment reminded me what discipline and belief can quietly build,” she adds.

“I always expect the worst. It keeps me prepared,” she says simply. Her approach on track is deliberately unsentimental. She never chased position, only progress. “My only goal was to beat my previous lap, to be better than my last version,” she explains. The podium, she insists, was never the target. “It was the byproduct.”

Driving the Ferrari 296 Challenge car came with its own learning curve. “New car, new circuit, no time to settle in,” she says. “You adapt or you fall behind.” Every braking point, throttle response and setup adjustment had to align with her instincts, instantly. Motorsport, she says, offers no luxury of comfort. “Turning uncertainty into confidence was the real win,” she adds.

Racing With Representation

“I wasn’t racing just for myself,” she says. International competition brought global standards, relentless pace and heightened pressure. Alongside it came the responsibility of representation. “I knew I was carrying India with me, especially women watching back home,” she says. The pressure was real, but so was the motivation. “It gave every lap purpose.”

“Perfection doesn’t exist,” she says. “There’s always room to be better.” Even after silverware, restlessness defines her. “This podium is personal, but it’s also a message,” she explains. “Talent has no gender, and Indian women belong on the international grid.”