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Earlier this year, India’s Sports Ministry granted Motorsports the legitimacy it so rightly deserved. The Federation of Motor Sports Council of India (FMSCI) was acknowledged as an official body, thus allowing it to come under government subsidies. With two former Formula one participants, hosting an F1 race, an Indian owned F1 team and several drivers across the world racing hierarchy, the country has definitely made its presence felt.
The recent penetration within the mainstream has already reaped positive by-products. One such example is of Kunal Vinod. At the fledgling age of eight, the Bengaluru-based karter is being touted as one of the most prodigious talents to come out India’s racing ecosystem.
Impressed in his first attempt: Srinivas’ father
Kunal’s father Vinod Srinivas said, “Around two years back when he was six years old, we took him to a Karting track and he really wanted to try it. So we said go ahead, there were four five other kids there, and to our surprise he did really well, took the corners like a pro. Apart from that he was exposed to motorsport at a young age. He has been to Indianapolis for the US GP at a young age and the Red Bull Ring in Austria as well, so he’s also been exposed to Motorsports at a young age.”
Currently participating in the JK Tyre FMSCI National Rotax Max Karting Championship, Kunal is in a respectable seventh position. The 14 driver division has 10 drivers aged 12, hence he is consistently participating and winning against competitors four year older to him.
Srinivas said, “Around three years back, when he just turned six, he went to a local karting track to participate in a race. The drivers there were aged 11-12 and had at least two years of experience. But, when he started driving you wouldn’t notice the difference, of course he didn’t win and was 15 seconds off at the end, but he was taking those risky moves and giving them a run for their money. It is at this point we decided that there is talent there and it was a reference point for us as well.”
After honing his skills for a few months, Kunal slowly started shaving off more time from the 30-second mark. It is also at this point that his mother, Anita, took to social media. She said, “We started looking online for places where we can enrol our son. What is the way we can actually streamline his talent.”
In the beginning of 2014, Kunal would take part in his first ever National Kart Open. Srinivas said, “We had absolutely no expectation from him, we just wanted him to enjoy his first race. Surprisingly, he was running fourth mid-way into the race. So we were very impressed. But what he did after that shocked us. He drove like someone possessed and took second place. That was indeed a great moment for us and it reaffirmed our belief towards his motorsports dream.”
Thanks to his performances in the ‘micro-max’ category, he was signed up by local team Meco Motorsport. The team sponsors his kart, equipment, kit and other requirements. Srinivas added, “The team can only do so much in India, so we decided to invest in equipment for him. His performances have also shown an improvement.”
He finally finished fifth overall at the Kart Open, highlighting his growth from learning the sport to someone with actual transitional potential. Kunal’s age category has five races across India, two races in Kolhapur Maharashtra, one in Vizag and the other two decided on a yearly basis.
Senna is my hero: Kunal
On being asked about his role models, Kunal said, “I really like Sebastian Vettel and Schumacher, but my favourite is Ayrton Senna. When I saw Senna, I really fell in love with his driving style. He is my role model. Among Indian drivers I really like Arjun Maini, he is really good.”
Kunal is also a model student in school with Taekwondo prowess as well. He said, “I’m the prefect in school, so that feels very nice. And all my friends find motorsports cool, so it’s great. I also really like Taekwondo. If I wasn’t into karting, then I would have definitely taken it up.”
Kunal’s parents are hopeful that he will attain success at an early age in the Junior Championship, so that he can transition across various age categories. His father said, “Right now we are hopeful he does well in the National Max category, and then he can slowly set his sights on being senior. He only trains on weekends now, because he has to keep an eye on school. There is a certain amount of sacrifice to be made if he wants to take up motorsports and he realises that.”
When asked about the dangers of taking up motorsports at such a young age, he added, “Yes, it’s always there in the back of our mind. But he knows the perils involved as well. As someone involved with racing, he has to take those risks, but that has to be calculated. So these are also life skills, hence we are not that worried.”
With the government increasing subsidies on equipment, there is all probability that talents such as Kunal can proliferate through the system. He is now preparing for the next season, hoping to better his ninth-placed overall finish.
It might not be long before we see another Max Verstappen in F1, but this time from India.
