There is something different about car number 52 in Formula 4 category of the JK Tyre Racing Champion. From the outside it looks like yet another car in the pack but what makes it unique is the presence of Sneha Sharma — the sole female driver on the grid.
The 23-year-old started 14th on the grid on Sunday at the Buddh International Circuit and finished on the same spot despite being hit by another car during one of the eight lap race. This unique aspect, Sneha later admits, comes with its fair share of challenges as well.
In a sport dominated by men, even at the top of the hierarchy, Susie Wolff is the only female driver in Formula One. Going several categories lower, Sneha agrees there have been some sexist comments aimed at her but now she has learnt to take it in her stride. "I'm asked this question quite a lot but when the helmet is on, I'm just another driver. It is something I believe in and I do believe in strongly. I do come across judgemental people and unfair comments from people but there are also those who encourage you. So in the end, you have to know your aim and not let things affect you. There is a little bit of heckling on the track and comments like 'you don't know how to drive'.
"Initially my family did not support me but since I'm a pilot as well, they're concerned for my safety and well being. They've begun to like it now even though I'm a 'lone ranger' of sorts in the sport. But it's better now. It used to affect me quite a lot earlier but I've become accustomed to it and I don't mind it anymore," she said.
The Mumbaikar also shared that some of the sexist comments have come from people who are inside the sport as well. "Racing as we all know is a very expensive sport. I'm lucky to have JK Tyre, Rayo Racing and Zen Microsystems as my sponsors but I still have to put in a little bit of my money into it. I was told by one guy that 'you're wasting your money. Go back, you don't know how to drive' and it was someone inside the sport."
The Rayo Racing driver lists motorsport as her racing and passion despite being a pilot and somehow finds time to make space for both. She eyes Formula One in the future but aims at Formula BMW in 2015.
"I basically have no life! (laughs) All my leaves, my time off go into racing and I keep working to improve. Over that, fitness is vital in racing and I work on that extensively. My day starts at 7, I exercise and then I go for work and have to manage to watch race videos and work on the race simulator as well. It is difficult but I'm managing somehow.
"Going ahead I see myself progressing to Formula 2 and then eventually Formula One. But for Formula One, I would need a lot of sponsors and a lot of time to manage both driving and being a pilot. But racing is my passion so I'll continue to go for it. I plan to stay in Formula 4 until end of next season and from then onwards, I plan to shift to Formula BMW. It is one thing to be on the grid and another to perform consistently and drive better up there," she concluded.
Speaking about her performance on the day, she said the conditions were difficult and also the fact that she’s getting used to the new car and team made it a little tricky but overall she was content with it.
“I've raced in two races so far as I joined mid-season and I'm getting used to the car. I used to do other forms of racing and this is new to me. My timings are improving and I'm starting to push the car to its limits now. It was decent today given it’s a very hot day. So the heat made it difficult because when the track is too hot, we lose grip.”
Meanwhile, TS Diljith of Don Racing raced his way to the chequered flag in the race with Vishnu Prasad only 300th of a second behind. Raghul Rangaswamy finished third.