Ten-year-old Arshi Gupta becomes world’s youngest to win Rotax MAX Challenge Mini title, clinches back-to-back national championships

Rakesh Thapliyal 

New Delhi, October 19, 2026: 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. The prestigious international event will see her take on some of the world’s best young karting talents as she carries India’s hopes onto the global stage.

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.”

Her parents also spoke of the endurance the sport demands. “Behind the trophies lies a gruelling regimen. In 2025 alone, Arshi logged 137 days on track and 29 races, followed by 140 track days and 30 races so far in 2026. Her preparation has included a five-month training stint in the UAE and 13 weeks in the UK, demanding long days in the cockpit, physical conditioning and constant travel, all while keeping pace with school,” they said. In all, Arshi has raced and trained at 21 circuits across India, the UAE, the UK, Sri Lanka and France.

Banita Singh, Headmistress, DPS Faridabad where Arshi is a student, said, “Arshi shows our students that age is no barrier to excellence. She balances international racing with her studies and remains a cheerful, curious learner. The entire DPS Faridabad family is proud of her.”

Arshi now sets her sights on faster karts and bigger international grids, pursuing her dream of representing India at the highest levels of global motorsport.