Humaira Mushtaq’s passion for motorsport began long before many of us could even ride a bike. Growing up in the culturally rich and traditionally conservative region of Jammu & Kashmir, where women rarely took the wheel, Humaira’s love for cars set her on a path few could have imagined. But for her, racing was not just a sport – it was a calling.

A natural instinct for racing

“I grew up in a traditional Muslim family where you don’t typically see women driving, let alone racing,” says Humaira. “But from as early as I can remember, I was drawn to cars.” She remembers receiving her first toy car at the age of four, which ignited a lifelong obsession. While most girls her age were playing with dolls, Humaira was spending her days with the boys, zooming around on toy cars. Recognising his daughter’s passion, her father, a motorsport enthusiast himself, built her a custom go-kart track. “I spent hours there practicing. It just felt natural,” she recalls.

By the age of five, Humaira was competing in professional Go-Karting championships, quickly moving through the ranks to single-seaters, Formula racing, saloons, touring cars and even occasionally drifting. What started as a pastime became a lifelong pursuit.

The memory of a father’s belief

Though motorsport was not widely accepted for women in her community, Humaira's father stood firmly by her side, supporting her against societal norms. “My father was my biggest supporter. Even when people questioned my dreams, he was there, building tracks for me and taking me to races,” she shares.

Tragically, she lost her father when she was just 13, a few days before her 14th birthday. But even in his final moments, he encouraged her to continue racing. “His last words to me were, ‘Don’t stop racing. You have this rare talent that not many have. Reach out to the world and create an example’.” It was this powerful message that fuelled Humaira’s drive to prove that women can excel in motorsport, despite the odds.

Balancing education and racing dreams

Though her heart was set on motorsport, Humaira’s academic journey took an unexpected turn. “I excelled in science and English as a student,” she explains. “My mother encouraged me to pursue a medical career, and I agreed to finance the initial years of my education in exchange for getting into medical school.” Despite excelling in her studies, Humaira’s heart remained with racing. “I didn’t want to work a desk job. My passion was in motorsport, and I worked hard to balance both.”

Endurance racing: Pushing limits

Having competed in a variety of racing formats, Humaira is particularly drawn to endurance racing. “Endurance racing challenges you not just physically but mentally and emotionally too. It’s about resilience and strategy, not just speed,” she says. The long, demanding races force drivers to push their limits while balancing physical endurance with mental focus. Humaira thrives in this environment, using both physical training and mental exercises such as meditation and visualisation to prepare herself for each race.

In endurance racing, managing factors like terrain, tyre wear and race strategy is crucial. “Choosing the right tyre can be a game-changer,” she notes, emphasising the need for tailored tyre options. “Different terrains and weather conditions mean the tyre that works on one track may not work on another. It’s a science.”

A historic achievement: Representing India at the British Endurance Racing Championship

Humaira’s biggest breakthrough came when she became India’s first female representative at the British Endurance Racing Championship. “Representing India felt surreal, but it was also a huge responsibility,” she recalls. Racing for Aston Martin, Humaira not only broke barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field, but she also proved that women could compete at the highest levels of motorsport. Despite initial scepticism from some of her male teammates, Humaira earned their respect with her skill and determination on the track.

Looking ahead: The road to the future

As she looks to the future, Humaira is poised for more international racing opportunities, with upcoming races in London, Spain and Dubai. But it’s not just about racing for her – it’s about making a statement for women everywhere.

“My advice to young girls who want to pursue a career in racing is to stay focused, determined and unafraid of obstacles,” she says. “Motorsport may be a male-dominated field, but talent, dedication and self-belief are what really count. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do – just keep pushing forward.”

Humaira Mushtaq’s journey from the streets of Jammu & Kashmir to the world’s race tracks is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance and belief. As she continues to break barriers and set new records, she remains an inspiring figure for future generations of women in motorsport.

FORNNAX TECHNOLOGY PVT LTD has appointed Mohan Natarajan as its new Regional Head – Sales and Service for the South Division.

Apart from holding a first-grade degree in Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering from Maharaja Engineering College, Natarajan is also an MBA in Marketing and Business Analytics. Having worked in the manufacturing sector for more than 10 years, Natarajan brings a special combination of technical know-how, leadership skills and strategic vision to the table. He is committed to providing outstanding outcomes and client satisfaction in the area.

Natarajan will lead Fornnax's efforts to improve customer experience and bolster its footprint in the southern area – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana and Tamil Nadu – in his new position as Regional Head. In order to give its customers prompt and efficient solutions, the business is also investing in a new sales force and after-sales support facilities. The business is also establishing a spare parts warehouse to guarantee convenient access and reduce client downtime.

Continental has announced that it will discontinue its agricultural tyre business by the end of 2025 and concentrate its commercial speciality tyre business on material handling, earthmoving and port operations tyres. Following a thorough business analysis, the decision reflects what Continental refers to as growing commoditisation in the market for agricultural tyres. The company stated that it has been challenging to sustain its long-term goals in the industry due to persistent market disruptions.

This strategic repositioning primarily affects workers at its tyre manufacturing in Lousado, Portugal. Continental is convinced that it can provide the majority of the impacted workers a different position within the company and will help them all during this transition. Continental will fulfil all contractual supply obligations to its agricultural tyre clients through the end of 2025, namely with its TractorMaster, Tractor70, Tractor85, CombineMaster, and CompactMaster tyre lines. Continental's commercial speciality tyres business will continue to include the popular multi-purpose tyre ranges.

Paul Williams, Head of Continental Commercial Specialty Tires, said, “We are proud of the contributions we as a team have made to the agricultural industry and the trustful relationships we have built with our customers and partners. Sharpening the focus of our Commercial Specialty Tires business will further leverage our resources towards our strengths in material handling, earthmoving and port operations tyres.”

Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), a leading public sector oil and gas company, has launched the MAK Rubber Spray Oil in a convenient 26 kg pack, which will make it accessible for small and marginal rubber growers.

M Vasanthagesan IRS, Executive Director of the Rubber Board, unveiled the pack at an event held at Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII), Kottayam. 

He emphasised on the importance of consumer-centric innovations, highlighting that India has been a global leader in controlling rubber diseases. "Ensuring the well-being of farmers and improving ease of use should be a priority when launching new products. It is commendable that BPCL has introduced spray oil in smaller, more practical packaging."

Sohail Akthar, Marketing Head, BPCL, said, "This innovation will significantly support small-scale rubber growers who do not require large volumes of spray oil for fungicide applications. By offering the product in smaller, more accessible packs, we ensure that even marginal farmers can effectively protect their crops."

The event also saw addresses by several key industry figures, including Dr M D Jessy, Director-in-Charge, RRII, Moncy P Kurian, Managing Director, Manimalayar Rubbers, Dr Shaji Philip, Principal Scientist, RRII and Jenny C L, Territory Manager, Lubes, BPCL.

Following the formal launch, a technical session provided deeper insights into the product’s benefits and best practices in rubber cultivation. Sarvesh Tomar, R&D Head, BPCL's Lubes Business Unit, Dr Shaji Philip and N Sali, Joint Rubber Production Commissioner, Rubber Board shared their expert perspectives on sustainable disease management and advancements in rubber plantation technology.

The event witnessed active participation from representatives of large rubber estates, Rubber Producers' Societies and independent growers, highlighting the growing interest in adopting modern, eco-friendly agricultural solutions.

Pyrum Innovations AG has announced that its Supervisory Board has extended the contract with Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Kai Winkelmann until 31 March 2030 to ensure continuity in the management of the company.

Winkelmann joined the firm in February 2021, and on 1 April 2022, he was initially named to the Executive Board as CFO. He has so far played a major role in obtaining the company's funding during his tenure at Pyrum, including last year's successful capital raise. Winkelmann is in charge of Finance, Compliance and IT in his role on the Executive Board.

Alf Schmidt, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, said, “We are pleased about the contract extension of Kai Winkelmann, who has proven his skills and in-depth expertise in the financial sector and at the management level in recent years. Over the last four years, he has made a significant contribution to the development of the necessary administrative structures and to the success of the company, and has promoted its rapid further development. We have confidence in his foresight and are convinced that Winkelmann will continue to play a central role in the successful implementation of the company’s goals in the years to come.”