At what age did you realise that you wanted to race professionally? Could you take us through your journey?

I think it all started when I was in 11th grade, but because of my height everyone laughed at me and never took me seriously. It was like racing was never meant for short people. My journey started back in 2010 when the Bajaj Pulsar 180 had just launched and a couple of my friends owned it. They used to go racing illegally, but I loved watching them race. This made me want to learn to ride professionally. However, no one would let me ride their motorcycles as I was short and back then, women barely rode motorcycles. At the time, motorsports  in India was known to be a man's game. I was able to convince my parent's to buy me a motorcycle and eventually booked a Yamaha R15. To my bad luck, I met with an accident before my bike arrived and my parents cancelled the booking of my YamahaR15 and booked a Honda Dio scooter instead. I was so heartbroken that I did not ride my new scooter for a week after it arrived. I was struggling to collect my pocket money to buy a bike back then and used to be so stressed about it. Today, I own more than five motorcycles.

My journey has been tough as I am a woman trying to compete in what was traditionally a male dominated sport. I have hopped from team to team and tried my luck, but when you’re a woman trying to grow in a male dominated sport, you get to hear all sorts of things that send chills down your spine. I came to a point where I was going to quit racing and give up. But my mother kept reminding me that ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ and that kept me going. I was placed 2nd among 47 male racers in 2017 in Bangalore for the India Speed Week National Championship, and in the Valley Run races in 2019, I was placed 3rd among 45 male racers. I am now looking forward to my next race at the MMRT track in Chennai.

Of all the different types of motorsports, what made you choose drag racing?

Drag racing has a different kind of adrenaline rush. When the gushing wind touches my skin, I feel powerful. The faster I go, the more powerful I feel. It’s a general misconception that drag racing happens only on an empty strip of road where all you are supposed to do is race straight and just tap through all the gears. It sounds very easy, right, but trust me it's way more intense than any other type of motorsports. Firstly, it’s very important to have a technician who understands the engine well. Then you need someone who can source parts from across the globe to make the bike go as fast as possible. The rider needs a lot of practice and riding a drag bike is not a joke. Imagine riding a motorcycle on thin race tyres at a top speed of 170 kmph. If your launch is not perfect, you lose precious micro seconds and if your shifting is not precise, your clocked time suffers.

 Racing predominantly is gender biased and there are many misconceptions  about female drivers. What are your thoughts on this, based on your experience in racing so far?

Motorsports is mainly known as male dominated sport, but it definitely depends on the upbringing you’ve had. There are many male racers and colleagues who actually support me and want to see me grow in this field. Many women including me suffer during races as some of the male riders never want to be beaten by a woman on the track. I face a lot of sarcasm and other racers think it’s a joke when I pull up to race against them. I have had people tell me "Tere mom dad kuch boltey nahi hai kya?". Also, "Humari ghar ki ladkiyaya bahu log kabhi race karti to hamare baap dada kaat ke rakh dete". You can imagine how sentences like these can demotivate you and bring you down.

 Being a racer, how do you take care of tyres?

Tyres are the most important part for us racers and I literally take care of my tyres by using different products. I sometimes end up changing my tyres after every race because I want the traction to be at the top level. Motul being my official sponsor, I use their tyre repair kit which is really good and it helps me a lot. Also, during the time after the race and the time before the next race, I just don't let my bike stand – I use it at times so that the tyre health is good.

 Has there been any instance where you felt a set of tyres was just not right or worked really well for racing?

Definitely, there have been instances where I should have used a set of tyres but ended up using another and it completely ruined my race. Tyres play a vital role and are very important during a race. I used to use normal road tyres for my races but always landed up with the rear wheel spinning out, which ruined my race and affected my race timing. Then I started using Vee rubber tyres which gave me amazing traction and helped me achieve high speeds without any hiccup – and "boom" I won. That’s how important tyres are in a race. You can have your motorcycle set up perfectly, but if the tyres aren’t right, it could cost you the race.

Apart from racing, what do you do and what is the future plan?

I am currently working for Cathay Pacific Airways in the Regional Team. A fact that most people don't know about me is that I am an animal rescuer and have many rescued animals living with me. I have planned to complete my diploma in veterinary science or medicine while continuing to race in my free time. I am also planning to race in Thailand hopefully next year.

What do you tell to women who want to try their career into racing?

For all the women out there, if you love bikes and love speed, do not think twice – Just go for it. Life does not give you many opportunities, so make the fullest of whatever you think is best for you. People will always try and bring you down because your growth is going to hurt them, but you need to follow your dreams. Being scared is no option; it's either your way or the highway!

Make it happen, girls!!! (TT)

Apollo Tyres Ltd has secured a one-season shirt-sleeve sponsorship agreement with AS Monaco, one of French football's most successful clubs, to increase awareness for its premium Vredestein brand.

This partnership will leverage Ligue 1's ranking as the fifth most watched football league in the world to raise awareness of Vredestein's award-winning products among a large audience in France and abroad. On November 22, AS Monaco's home league game against Brest will have the new sleeve branding for the first time. The Vredestein brand will be heavily promoted at Stade Louis-II for the 2024–2025 season, including on player sleeves and LED screens around the field. Exclusive social media initiatives will further help make the brand prominent, reaching a large and interested audience.

Yves Pouliquen, Vice President – Commercial, Europe, Apollo Tyres, said, “This partnership is an exciting opportunity to strengthen Vredestein’s presence in one of our key markets. AS Monaco’s rich history and commitment to excellence mirror our focus on performance and innovation. We look forward to building a successful relationship with the club and celebrating its achievements this season.”

Thibaut Chatelard, Marketing and Revenue Director, AS Monaco, said: “We are delighted to welcome Apollo Tyres and its Vredestein brand to the family of AS Monaco partners. This collaboration makes sense in view of the values we share, such as the constant pursuit of performance and excellence. There’s no doubt that this new support will be precious for the rest of our season, which promises to be thrilling.”

Nexen Tire, a leading global tyre manufacturer, has launched the Nexen N´Blue S tyre, adding to its range of summer tyres and providing drivers with advanced safety, energy efficiency and superior driving stability in wet and dry conditions.

Developed using highly dispersed silica and equipped with an optimised structural design, the Nexen N´Blue S tyre provides reduced road noise and improved driving stability. The tyre features an innovative tread compound, formulated with hydrophilic fillers and microstructure-controlled polymers, and provides lower rolling resistance and exceptional dry and wet grip. The tyre also excelled in test results by demonstrating an 11 percent improvement in wet braking distance compared to its predecessor.

Apart from providing excellent performance, the Nexen  N´Blue S also scores high on the sustainability index. The tyre provides an eco-friendly solution for environmentally conscious drivers by minimising fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The Nexen N´Blue S summer tyre is available in 58 sizes, which makes it compatible with different types of vehicles.

Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. is all set to expand its investment project in Binh Duong province of Vietnam, with the phase 3 of expansion commencing in early 2025. This was discussed at a recent meeting between Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee (PPC), and Kim Hyun Ho, General Director of Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd.

The meeting was held on 13 November at the Administrative Centre of Binh Duong province, as per an official statement. Apart from the company’s investment till date and the planned investment for phase 3, the two also discussed about the challenges and obstacles regarding procedures and processes to have more land funds to expand the manufacturing plant, along with taking measures to tackle the obstacles. Kim Hyun Ho also conveyed to the PPC Chairman that Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. belongs to South Korea's Kumho Tire Group and is currently ranked 10th in the car tyre manufacturing industry.

The company had invested in a tyre manufacturing plant in My Phuoc 3 Industrial Park in 2007 with a total initial investment of USD 308 million, which was supplemented by another USD 300 million in 2021. This extended the factory scale to six hectares and increased the production capacity to 12.5 million tyres annually. With the expansion in early 2025, the company will raise its total investment to USD 908 million and increase the factory's production capacity to 17 million tyres annually. The expanded capacity is expected to be operational by early 2026.

Yokohama-ATG, a leading manufacturer of all-terrain and off-the-road tyres, has expanded its Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range of forklift tyres with the launch of white, non-marking tyres.

The Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range consists of puncture-proof SDS tyres with extended wear limits designed for high-intensity working shifts and long durability. These are premium, solid rubber tyres developed for tough demands, a long service life and high driving comfort. The addition of white, non-marking tyres is specifically aimed at clean working environments.

Marked by a 3-stage construction process, the forklift tyres feature reduced heat build-up, effective shock absorption and minimised vibrations. The pattern design guarantees a smooth ride and good steerability thanks to its continuous centre lug and circumferential grooves. Furthermore, the flat walls and wide flat profile offer excellent stability when using a forklift for vertical stacking. The tyres are also equipped with anti-slip steel beads for improved rim fitment

In a case study on a CAT 2.5-tonne forklift that was used for handling heavy pallets on asphalt, the Galaxy MFS 101 SDS outshone the competitors with impressive performance. The tyre delivered an approximate 900 working hours before replacement against competitors’ 500 working hours.