Atqa Mir crowned vice-champion at MENA Karting Championship

Doha, Dec 25: Atqa Mir secured the Vice-Championship title at the MENA Karting Championship Nations Cup 2024, held at Lusail International Circuit. Demonstrating exceptional skill, Mir dominated seven practice sessions and claimed pole position for the second consecutive year.

A statement said that in the final race, Mir led for 18 of 20 laps and set the event’s fastest lap record before finishing second. This achievement makes her the first female competitor to secure Vice-Champion status in consecutive years at this prestigious event, which features over 150 participants from the MENA region.

Competing in the MicroMax Category with standardized Birel karts, Rotax MicroMax engines, and VEGA M1 tyres, Mir’s performance highlighted her racing prowess. “I topped all practice sessions and should have won the final, but I’m proud to have given it my all,” she said after the event.

The championship, hosted by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), featured competitors from 16 nations across six categories. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who founded the event in 2020, praised the championship for showcasing regional talent and bringing global attention to MENA motorsport.

Mir’s notable achievements include becoming the first female to win at RMC International Trophy in France, first Indian female to achieve second runner-up at Champions of the Future Academy Program, and first female Vice-Champion in UAE IAME National Championship.