Zooming along the track at dizzying speeds, the sound of the engine throbbing in one’s ears, the feel of the wheel, the roar of excited crowds… Auto racing seems to have inflamed the blood of many youngsters in the city. The recent national racing championship at Irrungattukottai showcased the talent of many young racers, some of them just 16! Already making a mark on the racing circuit, they are setting themselves bigger goals to achieve, and new heights to attain.
Ask 21-year-old racer Sailesh Bolisetti what drives him and he admits, “I have always loved cars and driving. We used to travel a lot when I was young and my dad used to let me drive. As I grew older, I realised that I had developed a passion for driving and racing. I spoke to my dad and he was supportive. He was very confident that I would be good at this. What I love most about racing is the speed — but for my trainer, it’s consistency that matters.”
Racing to these youngsters is all about speed and control. Saran Vikram, another ardent racer, says, “When racing, every decision has to be made in a fraction of a second. Racing is my biggest obsession and in the future, I want to participate and win the Formula 3 Euro and the GP2 some day. I am eagerly looking forward to the day I achieve these goals.” Vikash Anand, 16, has already earned a name for himself on the circuit. He says, “I used to watch my dad’s friends as they raced and I participated in my first race when I was eight years old.”