Arshi Gupta, India’s youngest National Karting Champion, has scripted another extraordinary chapter. On Sunday, the day she turned 10, the Faridabad racer won the Mini Max category of the FMSCI RMC Indian National Karting Championship 2026, becoming the youngest driver in the world to win the Rotax MAX Challenge Mini category.
The title follows Arshi’s 2025 triumph in the Micro Max category, making her one of the rare drivers to win two successive Rotax MAX Challenge categories in consecutive years. Her speed and dominance were evident in the final race of Round 5 of the National Karting Championship, where she clocked eight consecutive fastest laps and smashed the track record. She remains Asia’s only female national karting champion in a sport where boys and girls compete on the same track.
Arshi will now represent India in the Mini Max category at the Rotax MAX Grand Finals 2026, scheduled to be held in Portugal in November. India will compete across three categories, Mini Max, Junior Max and Senior Max, with Arshi being the sole Indian representative in the Mini Max category.
Her parents, Dr Deepti Gupta and Anchit Gupta, said, “Every early morning, every long journey and every setback has led to this moment. Arshi races because she loves it, and seeing that joy turn into a world record for India makes us immensely proud.”
Rohit Khanna, Arshi’s coach in India, said, “What makes Arshi’s journey truly commendable is not merely the results she has achieved, but the dedication, discipline, and determination that underpin them. Her ambition to move up the racing ladder, graduate into faster karts, and challenge herself in bigger, more competitive environments reflects the mindset of an athlete who is constantly striving to reach the next level.”
The title adds to a remarkable list of honours. Arshi is the youngest driver globally to be selected for the F1 Academy Discover Your Drive programme, a recipient of the FIA President’s Medal, and a podium finisher in the UAE and the United Kingdom.
David Bellchambers, Arshi’s coach in the United Kingdom, said, “At her very best, Arshi is unbeatable. Her achievements and progress are a testament to her talent, determination and hard work, and I’m incredibly proud of what she has accomplished so far.”