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June 30, 2025 44 mins

In this episode of 'Screen to Speed,' powered by INIT eSports, host Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya talks to Phoebe Nongrum, the only female racing professional from Meghalaya, India. Racing in the Formula 4 series for Ahura Racing until 2020, then rallying in the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) for AMMYFIED Team in 2023.  Then rallying for Snap Racing in 2024, clinching the title of Vice Champion in the Women's Category. She's been a winner in multiple disciplines of motorsport across India since 2017. So buckle up – Screen to Speed starts now!

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00:00 Meet Our Guest: Phoebe Nongrum 01:10 Overcoming Challenges in Racing, taking those first steps 06:47 Breaking into Formula Racing 13:38 Inspiring the Next Generation 17:21 Facing Stereotypes in Motorsport; Overcoming Doubts and Challenges 23:11 Living in the Present and Future Aspirations 24:42 The Importance of Sponsorship in Motorsport 34:44 Encouraging Younger Racers  41:20 Final Thoughts and Farewell

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The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net

INIT eSports focuses on sim racing events and digital tournaments. They bring eSports content to fans and sponsorship opportunities to brands, while maximizing audience reach across multiple sports, industries, and platforms. INIT eSports is a woman-led company where Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility is in their DNA, and their platform aims to combat bullying and cheating to help make the eSports world as safe and fair as possible. To learn more, be sure to logon to www.initesports.gg today or follow them on social media @initesports, join their discord, check out their YouTube Channel, or follow their live content via Twitch.

Copyright INIT eSports. This content originally aired on the INIT Talks livestreams via Twitch. This episode is part of the Motoring Podcast Network and has been republished with permission.

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome to Screen to Speed,powered by Init eSports.
In this podcast, we dive into thejourneys of remarkable individuals
making waves in sim racing andbridging the virtual with the real.
From the thrill of digital circuits to theroar of real life racetracks, we explore
the passion, dedication, and innovationthat drives the world of motor sports.

(00:20):
We'll hear from athletes, creators,and pioneers sharing their stories,
insights, and the powerful ways simracing is connecting communities and
creating pathways into motor sports.
So buckle up screen to speed starts now.

(00:49):
Hello.
Hello.
Welcome everybody to any talks.
Uh, happy to see everyone here.
We got, uh, gram today with us.
Uh, welcome.
Thank you so much for having me.
Uh, it's lovely to, this is myfirst time with you guys, so
this is pretty exciting for me.
Yeah, that's great.
Thank you so much forjoining us, uh, today.

(01:10):
Uh, so you're the only one,uh, female professional racer
from, uh, your city in India.
Uh, so what does itmean for you personally?
Well, uh, you know, uh, it'sactually a very, very big deal.
Uh, I think words can evenexpress or, you know, explain
what a big deal this is to me.

(01:32):
Uh, like the reason being firstly,you know, uh, getting into racing
in India is quite a difficult task.
Um.
Apart from the fact that I comefrom a very tiny, um, part of
India, it's even another, uh, youknow, uh, another difficult step.

(01:52):
Uh, basically, um, I come fromthe north eastern part of India
from a very small town called,uh, it's in the state of Mikhale.
And, uh, you know, likeevery other person, every
other kid had a dream, right?
The same goes to me.
Was barely like just a dream basically,which was not even, uh, in my wildest

(02:17):
thoughts that it would ever, ever bepossible to ever touch a racing guy, ever.
So I think, uh, sometimes I myselfneed to, you know, pinch myself
and say, Hey, hello little girl.
Did you actually get here?
So it actually meansquite a big deal for me.
Uh, sometimes I'm still in denialof the fact that I made it this far.

(02:39):
Okay.
That's great.
Uh, did you have anyone in yourfamily who was into racing actually.
See that is the best part.
None.
Um, you know, since it's a small town,everybody here actually don't, we
don't even have big companies here.
Right.
Because it's a small town.
Mm-hmm.
So everyone is dependent on eitherbeing an entrepreneur, running their

(03:00):
own small businesses, or, you know,working with the government basically.
Right.
So government jobs are very wellloaded, right town, like everyone
who, uh, finishes their studies.
Rush for these exams for government jobs.
Right.
So, uh, I myself, you know, um, has, uh,have parents who work with the government.

(03:24):
So there is nobody in my family, likeeither, some of my family members would be
doctors or nurses or engineers, you know,but none in the motor sports, uh, field.
So I think I was the only onewho stepped, took that step out.
And, uh, you know, uh, steppedinto the motor, uh, world, which.

(03:49):
Wasn't, uh, wasn't, you know, accepted,uh, in, at first, you know, that way.
Mm-hmm.
So now nobody from my family isin that background, so I think
I'm the one who took that firststep to get into motor sports.
Mm-hmm.
You're really brave, uh, to befirst one, uh, from your family
to jump into Motorsport actually.
Uh, do you remember the exact moment whenyou knew that racing was actually for you?

(04:14):
Uh, you know, um, I never actuallythought of that because I. I finished
my studies and, uh, finished my, um.
Graduation and, uh, Ithink I was myself aiming.
I worked for a while.
Uh, I was in a different statein India from my town where I
finished my graduation and I startedworking in a different city in the

(04:36):
south, the southern part of India.
And, uh.
I was working there for about 12 years.
So I think, um, I mean, Iworked a couple of jobs.
I worked with Red Bull.
Red Bull, I worked with a few mm-hmm.
Companies and, uh, but still, you know,I, I, I didn't feel I fit in and I
thought to myself like, I feel so lost.

(04:57):
Like, you know, I've done my graduation.
Uh, now I'm working.
I'm supposed to be happy.
Like I have a good job andlike I'm making good money, but
something seems to be missing.
Mm-hmm.
So, uh, I never still even thoughtabout the wild dream, you know?
Mm-hmm.
Getting into a race, uh.
But then, uh, once finally day Idecide I'm done with these jobs.

(05:22):
I need a break.
Like I just a job and to try andfigure out what I exactly wanna do.
What is this feeling that I'mfeeling that I'm missing out?
Uh, so I took a big step.
I took a break from workingand everything else.
I came back home.
I. Uh, it was then when, you know, wehave these, uh, local, local events like,
you know, like, uh, a small autocrossin the dirt track and stuff like that.

(05:42):
Mm-hmm.
So I had a friend who was like, Hey,you've always been wanting to do stuff
like this, you know, here, take my car.
Just go drive.
Mm-hmm.
You know, uh, maybe, you know,somehow you, you'll, you'll do well.
I said, uh, no.
He's like, no, just go take my car.
No big deal.
You know, I'm like.
Okay, fine.
Let me give it a shot.
So I think that was the moment whenI got into that car and uh, drove and

(06:06):
that's when I felt that, you know,sitting in that seat, in the racing seat.
And that's when I was like,I think I belong here.
Mm-hmm.
You know, so that was the moment for mewhere I was like, I think I should take
this break and go racing for a year andsee where I, you know, actually end up.
Where I actually, um, if I can actuallymake it somewhere with this racing.

(06:29):
Mm-hmm.
Right.
So that was the time when, youknow, I felt that I belonged.
And right after that, I, uh, gotinto other, uh, disciplines of racing
and uh, and then it just kept going.
So I just thought to myself, okay,this is exactly where I should be.
Yeah.
That's awesome.
Uh, can you tell me a bit more about yourfirst, uh, racing event, which happened?

(06:51):
How was it for you, what kind ofemotions you get, and, uh, what kind
of experience that was overall for you?
Basically, um, that was all localevent, but it started from there.
And, uh, after that, I, I got called, likeI had a few friends who already introduced
me since I was in, I was studying inthe south of India, like I said, and,

(07:13):
uh, I had a few friends in the field.
So someone I had known hadcalled me and said, uh, you
know what, uh, there's someone.
Was actually hosting a hunting for,and it's going to be the first, um, the
first formula of female team in India.
And uh, I was like, okay.

(07:34):
And they were like, we thinkyou should enroll for that.
You know, we think you should,um, participate, you should
try, you should give it a shot.
Go round and uh, see ifyou've got it in you.
And I was like, that's so interesting.
Like the first femaleformula racing team in India.
Mm-hmm.
And, uh, I was like, uh, sure, why not?
So I got in touch.

(07:54):
Um, I got in touch with the team,the team's name is Ura saying,
and, uh, the, the mentor, the coachof URA saying, the owner of the
team, and he was ex, he explainedto me what, uh, what's to be done.
And so the next thing I knew, Iwas down south again in a place
called and, uh, at the tracksover there, the motorway and, um.

(08:21):
Uh, and this was, uh, an event thatusually, uh, you know, uh, every
year it's a season based event, ofcourse, which is hosted by JY Tires.
So it was a Cheeky Tire Formula, formulaChampionship, formula four Championship.
Mm-hmm.
And, uh, this, uh, thetime was a big step for me.

(08:41):
It was the main step forme that I got him to race.
I got there, uh, 60 women fromaround India had came for that event.
Uh, some of them, uh, you know,who made it through the team were
that are familiar with the track.
Some of them had a little bitof cutting experience and things
like that, the basics, basically.
And, uh, as for me, uh, I wassomeone and the few others that

(09:06):
were there, I was completely blank.
Like, I've never seena formula car before.
Mm-hmm.
You know, have I, I, have Iever like, gone so close to
it, not touched it, you know?
So this one time I was like, okay,I'm actually gonna drive this thing
and I don't know how it works.
But then anyway, uh, during thechallenge hand, I drove my vest.
Um, I got very good lab timingson the formula car, so I

(09:30):
made it to the top six lead.
Team.
Mm-hmm.
So the team, uh, each teamhad to have six drivers.
So I made it to the top six.
And, uh, so I drove the first season then.
So that was when, uh, you know, I knewthat, okay, I should continue as, as long
as I can flow, go, uh, further with this,I'm just going keep on moving, you know?

(09:53):
Mm-hmm.
So decided that at that point oftime, so on the second season.
Uh, is when I, uh, actually,you know, uh, got into podium.
Uh, I created history for, uh,you know, for my state, uh,
being the first, uh, formula
and, you know, achieving a podium mm-hmm.

(10:14):
In that, uh,
formula.
And, uh, after that, uh, you know, thenunfortunately for me, the pandemic had,
had, uh, happened, you know, so I didnot, uh, get any more chance to go racing.
So it was a break for a while for me.
Mm-hmm.
And, uh, yeah.
So, but that was how, uh,everything kick started for me.

(10:36):
Mm-hmm.
Uh, driving at the J Tire Championship.
That's great.
You got, uh, actually real goodresults in, uh, in formula.
Um, so how, uh, your family react,uh, that you jumping into Motorsport?
Uh, so you, you only oneperson from your family Yeah.
Who did this?
Yeah.
Yeah.

(10:57):
So basically, uh, I even came back home,like when I took the break to come home.
Um, my dad was like, Hey, what aboutlike, you know, uh, maybe shifting
to the, a government job, you know?
Mm-hmm.
Uh, there's something here called, uh, thecivil exams where you, you know, you write
the exam and then you become like, uh.
Like, uh, uh, one of the officers,like a big rank officers.

(11:21):
Mm-hmm.
So it's an Indian civil exam.
So I was like, okay, maybe why not?
Since I'm back and stuff, Ieven prepared for the exam.
You will not believe it onthe day of the prelims exams.
It was the same day for the formula,uh, selection round, you know.
So I went to my dad and I was like,Hey, listen, something came up.

(11:41):
He's like, what do you meanyou have an exam today?
And, uh, I was like, um, no, but um,this is something very important to me.
So I was like, um, maybe I should goand, uh, you know, give it a shot.
If this doesn't work, I will neverlike, talk about racing anymore
and probably get into this.

(12:02):
Series, you know, bit of, uh,maybe working for the government
or something like that.
Mm-hmm.
So I don't think, uh, they tookit well because I don't think so.
It was something familiar to them.
I don't think they saw the factthat, you know, there's a lot that
can be, can be done through racing.
Like you can actually mm-hmm.
Uh, uh, like, you know, make a living orlike, you can get far with this because of

(12:25):
course, like I'm from a very small town.
No basics of cutting at all, like zero.
Okay.
Mm-hmm.
Till today, I don't think I caught.
So, uh, but then, you know, um, sinceI started driving at an earlier age,
I think that's how like I managed.
But yeah, so it, they didn't take it well.
So every time I would have to go racing,I would not tell them beforehand my plans.

(12:48):
Mm-hmm.
I would just tell them aday or two before I leave.
Mm-hmm.
So that, you know, they don't have.
That much time to think and then,you know, worry about it and then,
you know, end up telling me like, no,you know, you can't go this, that.
Mm-hmm.
So I don't give them the time.
I just tell them like, just beforeI go, uh, a day or two and uh, by
the time to process it, I'm gone.

(13:09):
You know?
Mm-hmm.
And then I always come back with a trophy.
So I think, uh, you know,eventually they got used to it.
Mm-hmm.
Like, ah, okay, she's going there,she's coming back with a trophy.
So it is just, it justgot used to that fact.
Mm-hmm.
You get really good plan to, youadapt your family to your, uh.

(13:30):
It's racing and then you're doing it.
Yeah, yeah.
Love it.
Yeah.
I have to find a way.
Yeah.
You said in, in the presentation, whichyou sent to me, that you, uh, once you
inspire both, uh, like boys and girls,uh, why is that important to you?
Uh, you know, I mean, like comingfrom a small town, you know, I think,

(13:55):
uh, I myself, I. Couldn't imagine,you know, that I would get here.
So, and I, a lot of other younger,uh, females and males, like
boys and girls from my state.
Who also aspire to, you know, getinto such things, you know, like
get into motor sports or like anytype of discipline of motor sports.
Everybody has their own, you know, someof them love the speed, some of them

(14:19):
love the techniques, you know, this, uh,maybe some of them love drifting, some
of them love, uh, maybe formula racing.
Some of them would love the dirt,like rallying and the rest, mo
motocross, uh, you know, biking, likedirt biking, stuff like that, right?
So for me, uh, I thinkit's very important.
Uh, you know, to inspire them sothat, you know, they'd see me and

(14:41):
they'd be like, you know, if shecan do it, so can we, you know?
Uh, so they would actually pickup themselves, find their way on
how to get about, like, how I did.
Uh, it wasn't easy for me,definitely when I started, because
like I said, I was the first one.
Now I'm, I'm someone who had tothink, how do I behave my own way?

(15:01):
How do I make, uh, you know, uh, this.
Way for myself, uh, in motor sports.
How do I get far?
Like, it was a lot for me.
Uh, and uh, somehow I managed.
So now that I'm here, I would liketo, I would love to inspire them to
look into the sport if they have the.

(15:22):
Uh, why waste it?
You know?
Um, gone are the days where peopleare like, oh no, you can't make it,
you know, uh, this is difficult.
And, you know, I don't think anything isdifficult if you put your mind into it.
So that's what I wantto put across to them.
I, I've been trying, uh, my level best.
I've also started amotorsports, uh, society here.

(15:42):
And, uh, through that society iswhere I'm trying to, you know,
help the younger generation.
Mm-hmm.
Recently we had, uh, we had a male who.
Performed really well.
We also had a few females, uh, butthey're not ready yet to go to the track.
But the mayor was ready.
So we had helped him with, uh, you know,uh, doing his first Indian National

(16:04):
Rally Championship, uh, the firstround, uh, that happened in the south
of India again in, so we have put himacross through the first round, okay?
Mm-hmm.
So this is just ways, I mean, wedon't have that much fundings,
but whatever we can what, howeverI can, I'm just trying to help.
So that, you know, they feel that,okay, we have support, so they

(16:25):
work harder and you know mm-hmm.
They plan, um, accordingly on how theywanna work, uh, so that they can, you
know, build a future in more sports.
Mm-hmm.
So that's what I would like to inspire.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's actually great yougot, uh, society to inspire, uh,
next generation yet to get intoracing, especially in India.

(16:47):
So I actually understand how, uh,hard it can be because I'm from
Kazakhstan, I'm from Almany, and uh,when I started racing, uh, yeah, like.
Not a lot of people, uh, get into this.
Uh, so now we got, uh, big circuit.
We got, uh, card circuit, like, uh,racing, uh, develop, uh, quite fast here.

(17:07):
Great.
Uh, so it's, uh, really cool to see,uh, that people get into it, uh, jump
into racing and, uh, having fun here.
Um, and, uh, speaking, uh, forward.
So how do you feel to be a female racingdriver in, uh, this motor sport industry?
Because, uh, personallyI met some stereotypes.

(17:31):
Uh, and, uh, then you just, youknow, you're finishing on a podium.
You just beat all these boys andthey like, uh, crying in boxes.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And, and just, uh, stop talking,uh, bad things about you.
So how was it for you?
Yeah.
I mean, uh, forget boys.

(17:52):
I mean, sometimes there are evengirls, you know, like women.
I mean, not maybe in the spot,but maybe it could be even
someone you know, or your friend.
Mm-hmm.
Or you know, somebody like that.
Like, it's just so weird thatpeople sometimes, you know, cannot
really appreciate someone for doing.
Uh, their best, you know, especiallyin this spot, because being a
female in this spot is not easycompeting with the men, right?

(18:15):
Mm-hmm.
Um, I think, I think when I started myfirst formula racing, I think, uh, every
time I would go so close to a guy in frontof me and try to overtake, he would panic.
You know?
He could see that, you know,there's a, there's panic over there.
Tension.
And then, and then when you pushtoo hard, then they start like,
oh my God, she pushed me so hard.

(18:36):
Like, I think that's the idea of the spot.
I need to like sh you a bitso I can overtake, you know?
Mm-hmm.
Like, I need to find my space.
So I think for even the slightestthing, like when they get shoved a
bit, they, they get so overwhelmed.
The fact that, oh my goodness,the female shocked me out there.
She trying to overtake, you know, I.
Feel, um, they're just not used to it,especially here now in India, that female,

(19:00):
uh, are coming up like female drivers arecoming up and with competing with them,
and I don't think, you know, that sitswell with them because they're so used to
in, uh, you know, uh, they're still usedto their own world, like men against men.
But, uh.
Of course we have those wonderful, uh,male drivers as well who are supportive.
Like I have met a lot of supportivemale drivers who would suggest

(19:24):
things to me, who would guide me,who would say like, you know, you're
doing well, you should push harder.
Yeah, we have those as well.
But then again, yeah, uh, we alwaysfind the stereo stereotyping ones
also, uh, you know, uh, some of themcannot take it, so it hits their ego.
It's very sad, but, uh, yeah, it'sactually fun for me because the more

(19:44):
I know, like I'm, you know, uh, I'mscared you and I'm hitting your ego.
I'm like, come on, this is so much fun.
Like, you know, the more youtell me I can't do it, the
more I show you how I do it.
So it's just, it's just,I like the challenge.
It's kind of a challenge to meand it's actually fun, you know?
Mm-hmm.
That way.
So stereotyping, I've had many.

(20:05):
But also on the other hand, I, Ialso give credit to the few that,
you know, actually support me.
I mean, I've had a lot being allby myself, starting this, a new
journey on my own and having some ofthem supporting me is really great.
Like, you know, in the.
Of course at the tracks is what I mean.
Mm-hmm.
And then of course, uh, day today, right, you meet someone,

(20:26):
they ask you, oh, what do you do?
You're a female.
Oh, you drive a racing car?
Oh my god.
You know, like, uh, um, the firsttime, yeah, the first race I had done
and got like, first a few races thatI had done, basically got a podium.
I had someone telling me, whatare you doing with your life?
I'm like, I'm actuallyenjoying this racing, but.
I'm not even thinking, you know,I took a break from working for

(20:48):
so long and I'm, I'm having fun.
And this person had come to me andsaid like, but you know, you're
not gonna make it anywhere, right?
Because this is like, uh, you know,this is Shalong and you live in
India and you know you are a woman.
You know?
Um mm-hmm.
It's, it's, it's, you are not,it's just going to be fun for now.
What are you going to do in the future?
I said, I don't think, if I can predictthe future, I think, you know, I would.

(21:09):
Like right now, it's how I wouldwork towards it, but because I can't
predict it, I think I'd like to listen.
You know?
I mean mm-hmm.
I'd like to take it one step at a time.
So this person was like, oh, Ihave fun while it still lasts.
Like the way the person said it was like,you know, as if like, you know, oh yeah,
it's gonna be for a while, so just havefun and you're gonna go down after that.

(21:32):
But then, you know, Ikept climbing up instead.
So there was one time when I gota podium and I actually said this
was to that person, you know?
Mm-hmm.
Who said that I was not going to make it.
This podium is for you, you know?
Uh, because you said that Iwasn't going to make it far.
Is the reason why I pushedmyself even more, you know?
Mm-hmm.
So here I am now, enjoy and watchme, you know, lift my teeth, you

(21:54):
know, that was how it was for me.
So sometimes I can get really cheekylike that and someone pushes me much.
I'd be like, okay, you know, it's okay,but I'll just show you how it's done.
You know, I don't have to say orfight or, you know, say anything
back to you, to you and make youfeel bad for making me feel bad.

(22:15):
And just show you how bad it seemsto actually see someone actually,
you know, do something the oppositeof what you are saying, you know?
Mm-hmm.
It's like that.
So basically all in all, all thegood and the bad and, you know, all
the stereotyping, uh, so far hasbeen fun for me because the more
they try to pull me down, the moreI actually show them the results.

(22:35):
Mm-hmm.
So it's actually kinda, it's kindof a good challenge actually.
You know, I look at, I takeit in that way, you know?
The more you pull medown, the more I get up.
So it's good.
Keep doing it.
Yeah.
Oh, that's, that's good.
Yeah.
I think I'm in the same way as you.
Uh, so, uh, no one can, can, can beat me.

(22:55):
Yeah.
No one, uh, can, uh, I, I, it wouldbe really interesting if, it would be
really interesting if we meet one fineday, have a team, and maybe be racing
against, you know, some of them out there.
Mm. And I really like the, the thingwhich you said about, uh, that, that
you're living in present because, uh,really sometimes it's really hard to, uh.

(23:20):
Plan anything in racing, uh, becauseall depends on many factors like
sponsors and, uh, like companieswho are interested in you.
And, uh, uh, yes, like I, I've been takingpart in the formal of four, formal three
as well, and we had to program with my,uh, as motor sports team till the F1.

(23:42):
Uh, but, uh, eventually theyjust, uh, shut down, uh,
the team, uh, the next year.
Oh.
Uh, yeah, and I just, uh, duringCOVID I jump into streaming, jump
into I racing and actually enjoyingto be a part of this community.
So you always, uh, you know, you, youalways got, uh, opportunities next to you.

(24:03):
Uh, and, uh, you just have totake them and, uh, go for them.
And it doesn't matter, you know, if you.
Like in racing car?
Uh, I think being in motor sportoverall in racing industry, you got
diff uh, different opportunities,uh, to be in this industry.
Um, not only as a racing driver, butuh, also as a like racing engineer or

(24:27):
maybe, uh, sim racer, maybe someone else.
So it's, uh, cool that, uh, industrygetting better and we got, uh, like
more space for everybody and more,uh, job for everybody here as well.
So I, I know that you not planningreally far away, but, uh, what would

(24:47):
be your dream, uh, series where youwould like to take a part in, maybe
in the future, if it's possible.
So what that will be for you.
Um, there are a few things ofcourse that I have in mind.
I mean, I don't know if I'd get thatfar, but again, like I said, you
know, you can always dream, but younever know that dream might come true.

(25:07):
So there are a few, uh, seriesthat I'd love to be part of.
Uh, firstly it would be the W series.
Mm-hmm.
You know, I don't know if that'shappening again or not, but
it happened for a few seasons.
I think two seasons happened.
Uh.
Uh, two or three seasons.
I would love to be part of the WSeries, even if it's not, uh, you
know, me getting so far, it wouldbe lovely to drive, you know?

(25:29):
Mm-hmm.
And, uh, apart from that, of course,um, the other part of the, the
other discipline of motor sportsthat I love would be rallying.
So I would love to.
Uh, you know, make it to the WRC,the World Rally Championship.
Mm-hmm.
Again, like even if I do not make it thatfar, at least I should make it somewhere
there, you know, drive those stages, uh,you know, get a chance to, uh, drive a

(25:52):
few stages maybe, or if I'm lucky enough,have a sponsor for the whole season.
But, uh, you know, a few rounds in these,uh, would be really amazing for me.
Uh, and of course I'm open to otherdisciplines of, uh, racing, but, um, all
these are not available in India, right?
So, and I have to go out andthen again, like, you know, I
have to step out of my country.

(26:12):
And then again, for that, like you saying,uh, sponsors, uh, is very difficult,
especially for women drivers, um, I meanfor male drivers as well as, so it gets
even more difficult for women drivers.
Um, because I think, uh, you know, uh,most sponsors are still trying to wrap
their head around the fact that, okay,it's a female driver or should we invest

(26:33):
or should we not invest, you know?
Mm-hmm.
These things, I think still, um,you know, uh, goes about in their
head like, should we put in thismuch effort and stuff like that.
It is kind of difficult for them as well.
I understand.
But it's also difficult for usbecause then again, you know,
we have, we have these, um.
Uh, thoughts in them.
Like, I mean, we have people whostill think that it's a female.

(26:56):
Uh, should we or shouldwe not still, you know?
Mm-hmm.
But, uh, I hope that, you know, there aremore sponsors that don't think, I mean,
because if they give their trust in us andthey do sponsor, I think that's when we,
uh, you know, even just ask people just.
As human beings, uh, youknow, tend to work harder.

(27:16):
Mm-hmm.
The more, uh, we, we have someoneto support us, the more we have
someone to believe in us, I thinkthat's when we also, uh, are
able to give in our all right.
I mean, if I come to you andI'll be like, Hey, you know what?
You are good, but not so good.
I think that's gonna makeyou question yourself.
So instead of me coming to youand saying that, like, Hey,

(27:38):
you are good, but not so good.
If I was a sponsor, I'd belike, Hey, listen, I'm gonna
put my everything in you.
So you know, give me that minuteor give me that second, make
it come whatever, you know?
Mm-hmm.
Um, I believe in you.
We are gonna do this as a team.
I think if things come in morepositively in that way, I think, uh,
you know, they get most out of it.

(27:59):
You know?
Mm-hmm.
Any in any field iswhat I'm trying to say.
Because when you have doubts, it'swhen you know, even us as drivers,
we of course when once we put thathelmet on, there's a lot that goes
on in our head right before we start.
And of course after we start, weforget everything and we just on
it, like at it on track, right?

(28:19):
So once we get that support, we knowwe have someone who's supporting or
someone with positivity, someone lookingforward to get something good out of us.
I think that's whatpushes us to do better.
Mm-hmm.
Know pushes us more.
So I think if we create that space of,you know, irrelevant if you're a female
or a male driver, you know, uh, come inas a sponsor, uh, help out, you know,

(28:40):
see, maybe you can try always with,they need a, sponsors could always
try with the drivers for a seasonor two, see how they work, you know?
Mm-hmm.
Uh, that way I'm sure theywould find three, four female
races who are good at it.
Jimmy Chadwick is like really amazing.
Mm-hmm.
Sophie is, uh, also amazing, you know,so I mean, like, um, these drivers

(29:02):
have also proven, uh, Doreen, right?
I think if I pronounce herher name right, Doreen.
Yeah.
So, yeah, I think it's, uh, reallyimportant to have the, you know,
the whole industry, uh, who's likeworking toward the, the drivers and
uh, and sponsors also getting in.
So when you got really small, uh.

(29:23):
Industry of racing in your country.
It's really hard to get sponsors.
It's really hard to get into racingactually, because, uh, like it's not
working that well, as in, for example,in the United States, uh, where we
know that industry is working prettywell and, uh, drivers getting small
sponsors and it's actually overallworking, uh, pretty, pretty well.

(29:49):
Um, um, so yeah, it's really complicated,uh, but it's good to see that, uh,
racing, develop and, uh, starting to growevery day in small countries as well.
Like not really small, but smallin, uh, in racing industry.
Yeah.
Uh, because racing is.
Not really, uh, popular, uh, likein India or in Kazakhstan, but

(30:13):
it's, uh, cool to see that it's, uh,eventually growing And, um, yeah,
that, that's really cool, uh, to see.
Definitely.
So I, I think that's, uh.
In the future.
So perfect world, uh, where in everycountry we'll have a racing, which is,
uh, like, uh, good business for everybodyand, uh, uh, nice sport to get in.

(30:40):
Uh, and, uh, but yeah,that's just a dream.
And all these people, whichwe, we got right now, um.
All guests, which wegot on the need talks.
Uh, they, uh, trying to, um, youknow, invest into this step to, um,
make, uh, their country closer to bein, in, in big worlds of the racing.

(31:05):
And actually it's really, really cool.
Uh, one day that, that's my, mydream that, uh, we'll have in each
country, uh, the racing, which, uh,e equal to, uh, racing, uh, how it's
working in United States because, uh,uh, they got the big show with it.
They got little sponsors who support like.

(31:27):
Even, uh, drivers who taken part inlast position, uh, in championship.
And it's really cool to seehow it's working actually.
And, um, hopefully, yeah, in one,one day, uh, in like in India or in
Kazakhstan and other countries, we'll see.
Um.
You know, more people into racingand more sponsors also getting

(31:48):
into it and just, uh, having fun.
Um, so yeah, actually from youryourself, how do you see the
future of Indian Motor Sports?
Would you like to see someone fromIndia taking part in formal one or maybe
in, uh, other, uh, big championships?
Uh, so how do you see it from yourself?

(32:09):
Yeah.
As far as the Euro, um, it goes, I think,uh, from India right now we have, in the
rallying field, we have, uh, s gi whohas been representing India and the WRC.
Uh, I think he hasn't done thewhole season as yet again, maybe
because due to sponsors, you know,but he has been getting help.

(32:32):
So he has been attending like, maybe afew rounds of the INRC last year or prior
to that, I think 2023 or 24, uh, is whenhe, uh, actually took part in the WRC.
He is actually one ofIndia's top best drivers.
Mm-hmm.
Um.
So, uh, you know, it's lovely to seehim there because that inspires us.

(32:55):
And, uh, also, uh, like we haveother drivers like, uh, um,
I think his name is, uh, Han.
Uh, no, sorry.
Uh, what is his name?
Yeah, I think Johan something is there.
I forgot his name.
Then, uh, there's, uh, Kush.
Uh, so these are a few drivers, enginedrivers that I've gotten so far as being

(33:16):
male, you know, so it would be lovelyto see also a female engine driver.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, you know, doing one of these, um, uh,even of these, um, disciplines of either
rallying or uh, you know, um, formula.
So for us to get there, I think,uh, we would need a lot of,

(33:36):
uh, help with the sponsorship.
Mm-hmm.
So, and the fact that, you know,uh, we haven't accepted India as,
uh, I mean most of the Indian, uh.
Uh, sponsors probably haven'treally looked into, uh, motorist
sports, uh, that, you know, lookedinto it that well to invest in it.

(33:57):
But yeah, slowly and surely we are comingup slowly and surely we are having,
uh, people who are interested in it.
So I just hope like five years downthe line, we have like, you know, um,
a few female drivers, uh, out there,uh, you know, representing India.
Uh, hopefully that will be you.

(34:17):
Uh, so we'll be happy to seeyou on international scene.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And, uh, the last one, uh,I think I'm hoping so too.
I mean, uh, yeah, hopefully, uh,we'll see you on international scene,
uh, representing India one day.

(34:38):
Hopefully one day, one fine day.
Okay.
And uh, the last one, what advice canyou give to Yes, girls, boys who would
like to take a part, uh, in racing,uh, all over the world and from India?
Uh, particularly.
So basically, um, you know, ifyou have that dream, I think,

(35:00):
um, now we live in a world where.
You know, it's not like before, beforewe have to, if our parents say, know
this is what we have to do becauseit's good for you, we tend to always,
uh, you know, follow that step, right?
Mm-hmm.
Uh, I just think that, um, if youdo have a dream, uh, relevant of
its, uh, just racing or anythingelse, I think you should speak up.

(35:23):
I think you should tellthem of your dream.
You know, if, if it's, if youwanna be, let's just put the simple
example of you wanna be a singer.
Which is something that's relatedto, you know, the normal, um,
uh, day-to-day, uh, thoughts of,you know, where you should be.
Like a doctor or a, or a, or a policeofficer or a, you know, like, like
the normal jobs, you know, if youhave something like, I wanna be a race

(35:47):
car driver, or I wanna be a singer,I think you should go, always be able
to go to your parents and, you know.
Tell them, this is what I think I'mgood at and this is what I wanna do.
So the same, similar thing with racing.
I think, um, we should take that stepand just inform them, you know, oh,
hey, I find I have interest in this.
You never know.
Your parents might go all out andsupport you, you know, knowing the fact

(36:11):
that, uh, you know, this is your dream.
So I think, uh.
It should start at a young age where,you know, we should be given also
that opportunity to speak up or tellwhat our dreams are to our parents,
because I think that's the only waywhere anybody could live their dream.
Right?
Uh, until, and unless our parentsdon't know about our dreams, I
don't think, uh, you know, we wouldget anywhere that far because.

(36:36):
If only they knew, thenmaybe they'd be supportive.
I mean, best example is lookat Louise Hamilton's, uh, dad.
So Louise Hamilton's dad was like,you know, very supportive towards
him since he was a kid, right?
Mm-hmm.
And, uh, I think it, that is a good wayto go about, because if your parents knows
what you love, they would give everything.

(36:56):
Like Louise's dad gave everything,like, you know, for him to become
a world champion one five day.
So I think, uh, you know,it should start there.
Mm-hmm.
Um, my advice would be don't be scared.
Go tell your parents what your dreams are.
In case it turns the other way.
Like, you know, like for me, like,you know, I wouldn't say my parents
were against it, but they justneeded time to get used to it because

(37:18):
this is something new to them.
Maybe, you know, someone would bein the same spot like I was in.
I, what I would say is find away, you know, find a way to make
them get used to the fact that,uh, you know, this is normal.
You know, uh, at first it might seemimpossible, but if you work towards it.
Find your way, work towards it.
You know, find a way to tell them,make them familiar with, uh, the

(37:41):
whole, uh, you know, the whole, um.
Make them familiar with the whole, uh,plan or the whole dream that you have.
You know, eventually they'll comearound it, anybody will come around it.
And the, the most important thingis that you believe in yourself.
Like, you know.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, you don't, um, youknow, doubt yourself.

(38:01):
Even if others around you doubt you.
You shouldn't doubt yourself.
I mean, of course I've had mydays as well, like when I had
a lot of people doubting me.
Some days I would doubtmyself as well, right?
Mm-hmm.
Uh, but then, um, some daysI would also doubt myself.
Uh, but then these things are normal,you know, I mean, we're human beings.

(38:21):
There would be days that would bedifficult, and of course we would think to
ourselves like, what am I even doing here?
Like.
You know, I got this far, butI don't think I can go further.
You know, these are things thathappen to other individuals.
Right.
But I think if those days come, weshouldn't be too hard on ourselves.
Mm-hmm.
I think we should let those days pass.
I think, uh, I've been in days whereI'm like, when the pandemic had hit, I

(38:45):
was like, oh, my recent career is done.
Like, this is it for me.
Like I just started, you know, and, uh,this has happened and I think this is it.
Like, um, you know, this is where it ends.
I've had days like that too.
And then once the pandemic was over,I was like, Hey, you know what?
I could, I can always restartwhere I left off, right?
I can always try again.

(39:05):
I mean, it was startingfrom the bottom again.
So then I was like, why not ifI've started from the bottom
before I can do it again, right?
Mm-hmm.
So these are things that, uh, you know,you should, um, be able, like your mind
is a powerful, uh, it's, it's, it isthe most powerful thing in your body.
So I think the more you tell, you convinceyourself, the more you train your mind

(39:28):
that you can do these impossible things,I think it's, you know, you can do it.
Mm-hmm.
So, I mean, if you tell your mindthat, uh, you know, I'm sick.
Your body will feel sick.
Mm-hmm.
Basically, right?
Uh, or you say, uh, I'm feeling lazy.
You know, the moment you thinkI'm lazy, your whole day is gone.
You are gonna feel lazy the whole day.
Mm-hmm.
So basically the mind is themost powerful thing in your body.

(39:49):
So if you say, I can do it, basically,uh, you know, even if you can't
do it today, if you can do it.
Like five months from now.
But if you say every day that you cando it and you take every small step you
are gonna get there eventually, right?
Mm-hmm.
So I think, um, this would be my, uh,advice to everybody that, you know, um,
nothing is good and pretty always, um, nowif we look at most of the racing drivers,

(40:12):
we love where they are at right now.
But everyone has a story atthe end of the day, right?
Mm-hmm.
Everyone had come through somethingto get to where they are right now.
So what I would say is that, uh,you know, um, if you think that's
what you want, don't give up.
Like chase it.
Even if it seem impossible,I'm sure in between somewhere,
it's not going to be smooth.

(40:33):
It's gonna be a rough path.
Mm-hmm.
But, uh, you know, uh, don't stop there.
You know, continue, keep going.
You know?
Uh, and eventually if you do not give upon yourself, you're going to get to places
where you never thought you would be, uh,like the rest of us who have, you know,
uh, pushed ourselves and come this far.

(40:53):
Mm-hmm.
So that would be my, yeah.
Yeah.
I, I agree with you.
Also, it's.
It's always worse to try.
Uh, at least.
Yeah.
And, uh, maybe you going to get in and,uh, like have good experience if you're
not going to continue, like at least you.
Going to have fun.
Yeah.
And, uh, just, uh, did whatyou, uh, what you actually like

(41:17):
and that, that's great thing.
Okay.
So thank you so much for Yes.
Being with us.
Uh, yeah, no worriesabout technical issues.
It, it is always happened.
Uh, it's fine.
And that's part of the stream.
Yeah, because we, we go on liveand it's more harder than, uh,
record videos and all the stuff.
So once again, uh,Phoebe, thank you so much.

(41:38):
Yeah.
Thank you.
It was lovely chatting with you.
Thank you for having patiencewith my network today.
And, uh, I hope it, we do stay connected.
Maybe, you know, once I day I get tocome and see you and never know what
plans you could make for the future.
Yeah, sure.
Only when we join hands is when we can.

(41:59):
Yeah.
Okay guys, when we join hands is whenwe can make a better place, right?
So, uh, one question Ihave, I have for you though.
Uh, so you, you do some racing a lot?
Yes.
I I'm doing this a lot.
I'm full-time streamer,uh, the network again,
so I suggest you to join a racing one day.

(42:19):
It's really fun.
Yeah.
Cool.
I hope I, I, I hope I'mtrying set up myself.
Yeah, I'm trying to set up a sim myself.
I've never done sim racing before,so hopefully we can connect then.
Mm-hmm.
Maybe we can.
Yeah.
Would be awesome.
Sim racing, I think worse to trybecause, uh, community is really
friendly and, uh, helpful all the time.

(42:40):
Okay.
Then I guess, um, the network isnot allowing us to go further.
Okay.
See you.
Okay guys, thank you so much for watching.
We'll see you.
You should stay.
Thank you.
Yes, thank you.
Bye.

(43:04):
In it.
eSports focuses on SIM racingevents in digital tournaments.
They bring eSports content to fans andsponsorship opportunities to brands
while maximizing audience reach acrossmultiple sports industries and platforms.
eSports is a woman-led company wherediversity, equity, inclusion, and
accessibility is in their DNA andtheir platform aims to combat bullying

(43:26):
and cheating to help make the eSportsworld as safe and fair as possible.
To learn more, be sure to log ontowww.initesports.gg or follow them
on social media at init eSports.
Join their discord, check outtheir YouTube channel, or follow
their live content via switch.
This episode has been brought to youby Grand Touring Motorsports as part

(43:47):
of our Motoring Podcast network.
For more episodes like this, tune in eachweek for more exciting and educational
content from organizations like TheExotic Car Marketplace, the Motoring
Historian, break Fixx, and many others.
If you'd like to support GrandTouring Motor Sports and the Motoring
Podcast Network, sign up for oneof our many sponsorship tiers at
www.patreon.com/gt Motorsports.

(44:10):
Please note that the content,opinions and materials presented and
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