New Delhi: India’s latest motorsport racing sensation Diana Pundole has recently made her way into the history by becoming the first Indian woman to compete in a Ferrari at the international stage. Hailing from Pune, she earlier created history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a national championship in Indian motorsport
‘Racing like meditation for me’
“Racing is like meditation to me,” she says. “When I am racing, that’s when I hear nothing but silence because I zone into it so hard and everything else just falls away. When I cut the engine is when the noise begins.”
The same silence carried her through the first round of the Ferrari Challenge Middle East Superpole Championship. While latest Ferrari Challenge category race car, she finished fourth in Abu Dhabi. She then followed it up with a second spot in the second round. She went on to complete the maximum number of laps across the race weekend, placing her in contention.
Being sponsored and supported by Aligned Automation, Diana Pundole is looking forward to the Jeddah Corniche circuit in Saudi Arabia. This will be followed up with Doha Qatar then Dubai Autodrome. While different venues have their challenges, Pundole remains focused on her preparations. While studying track layouts corner by corner, the weather data is also logged. Her free time is spent reviewing telemetry instead highlights.
Diana Pundole’s road to success
Her road to motorsport was never planned, nor was it inherited. She had come across a social media advertisement, which she signed up for without expectation. After sitting in the Formula 4 car she immediately developed a love for the same. Soon speed felt natural, and competition felt familiar for her. She inherited love for racing from her father, who was a devoted racing fan.
Soon, success started coming for Diana, but it wasn’t easy. Entering amale dominated sport led to criticism, which only sharpened her focus The criticism reinforced her refusal to seek special treatment.
Diana heads straight to analysis after every session. She sits with her coach and reviews each lap in detail. The first person she looks for after a race is not her family or fans, but the coach who helps her translate instinct into measurable improvement.
In 2024, she became the first Indian woman to win a national racing championship. She won in the MRF National Racing Championship saloon category at the Madras International Circuit. Diana finished first overall against male competitors.
Taking part in the International racing increased her bar. She responded by tightening her routine. Focus was on on cardio, strength, and isometric holds. Her mental conditioning includes visualisation and meditation. Racing in India’s competitive racing environment taught her never to take any session lightly.