Sport

Mother, teacher, and racing champion: Diana Pundole’s incredible journey

Diana Pundole, a teacher and a mother of two children from Pune India has made history by becoming the first India woman to win the national championship in the saloon category at the MRF Indian National Car Racing Championship 2024 in Chennai.

This has made her gain fame in sports that has always been considered a reserve for men only and this has been well illustrated in her lifetime achievement.

‘It has been a rollercoaster of emotions,’ she said during the interview as she had concentrated more on the last stage of the championship only to realize that she was a record holder after giving her interview to the media.

It was sweet for Kavana to clinch the trophy since the Social Services’ tournament was played during her birthday weekend.

Diana has been racing right from the childhood when at the age of six, she started karting as a favourite pastime. She never had a chance to be trained professionally but she devoted herself and worked tirelessly.

However, her education was more important hence she had to complete her MA in English literature in 2015 and thereafter she got job at a prominent school in Pune.

The big break was when she participated in a countrywide talent search programme for women in racing conducted by JK Tyre Motorsport at Coimbatore. Rejecting 195 girls, Diana got to the top six contestants against whom she competed.

‘‘I remember that winning that event was one of the major milestones in my life,’’ she said. The triumph afforded her a fully sponsored racing season an aspect that was her first time driving a single seater Formula car.

As from there, the racing career of Diana picked up full vigour. She moved up, to the Volkswagen Polo Cup Championship where she broke records on the track, and race with experienced drivers. In January 2024 she Join MRF for Saloon car this season she was leading for the championship points, and won championship at the season ending race in 17-August.

Diana’s achievements are not only the accomplishments of personal career, but the accomplishments that marked the victory of women in motorsport. This was the kind of mentality that she always held and upholded herself to never compete in women only classes.

“Motorsport is the only sport where the male ego is at its peak,” Diana told us how she was bullied at the track. I found this as motivation to work harder in order to make a statement.”

However, despite all that, the lady has Laurie attributed her success to her team, family, and friends. ’On track, I have a fabulous team of experts who work hard with me,’ she said, adding that ‘Off track, I’m blessed with a family and friends who are my biggest cheerleaders,’ she said, her mother prayers every time she races live on YouTube.

With racing activities, Diana has also raced in some of the international racing circuits such as the Dubai Autodrome and the Yas Marina Circuit in UAE.

According to her, it’s a continuous process of racing and meeting various hurdles and progressing. “It is not just the function of racing a car but it is closer to life where you are constantly challenged to go further, make a mistake and then learn from that,” she said.

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