🇮🇳 Racing Against the Odds: Mahaveer Raghunathan, The Only Indian Behind the Wheel of a Ferrari in the Italian GT Championship

🚥 From Chennai Streets to Championship CircuitsWhile most 10-year-olds were mastering their first bicycle rides, Mahaveer Raghunathan was imagining checkered flags and roaring engines. At just 26, this motorsport marvel from Chennai is now living that dream—as the only Indian driver in the 2025 Italian GT Championship, piloting a stunning Ferrari 296 GT3 for the legendary AF Corse team.

🛣️ The Unconventional StartBorn and brought up in a city where cricket rules every corner, Mahaveer chose a different pitch—the race track. No cricket nets, no NEET or IIT dreams. Just one obsession: speed. His journey began not with formula cars but with go-karts, when he first stepped on the throttle at a local track in 2011.

“The first time I drove, I knew—this is it,” he recalls, eyes gleaming.

His early podiums at events like the Amaron Karting Challenge only confirmed what he already knew deep down: racing wasn’t a hobby, it was destiny.

Since childhood, Mahaveer was captivated by the speed of racing cars.

🏎️ Fuelled by Passion, Backed by FamilyFormula One legends like Sebastian Vettel inspired Mahaveer during his teen years. Watching Vettel dominate the Indian Grand Prix between 2011–13 gave him clarity. He told his parents, “I want to race—seriously.”Unlike many skeptical families, his parents stood beside him. His father, a Chartered Accountant, remembers:

“When he started performing at the Asia Max Karting Championship in Malaysia, we knew he had to pursue this full-time.”

⚙️ The Grit Behind the GloryFrom karting to Formula BMW, GP2 testing, and eventually Formula 2 in 2019, Mahaveer’s path was anything but smooth. A year-long break, limited seat time, and steep competition in F2 tested his resilience.

Yet by 2021, Mahaveer became only the third Indian ever to test-drive a Formula One car, turning heads during a stint with Alfa Romeo.

Mahaveer was the third Indian to test drive an F1 car.

🎯 “The opportunity was sudden, but I stayed focused and prepared. That test was magical—I was close in lap times to the official drivers.”

🏆 Making Noise in GT RacingToday, Mahaveer’s attention is locked on the Italian GT Championship, a brutal battlefield with 36 cars and elite racers from global series like the FIA WEC. Driving for AF Corse, he already clinched a P6 overall and P4 in Pro-Am at the 2025 season opener—missing the podium by a mere 1.2 seconds.

“It hurt to miss the podium by such a tiny gap. But it was still a strong result. We’re improving,” he shares with grit.

🖥️ Simulators, Sacrifices & Steel ResolveBehind the wheel is a warrior—but behind the scenes is a monk. With limited track access, Mahaveer trains daily on his home simulator, even racing online with global drivers.

“Sim racing sharpened my instincts and taught me new circuits before I even stepped on them.”

🎗️ Financial strain is real in motorsport, but sponsors and supportive teams have kept his engine running. His breakthrough came with Coloni Motorsport, with whom he won a championship in 2017.

💬 “Motorsport is risky,” says his father, “but when the fire is in your child’s eyes, you have no choice but to support.”

Mahaveer’s parents were also very supportive towards his racing journey.

🏎️ A Ferrari, A Future, A FlagAdapting to the Ferrari 296 GT3 wasn’t easy, but Mahaveer made it his own. Team Principal Amato Ferrari of AF Corse notes:

“Mahaveer’s improvement curve is impressive. He works hard, listens to engineers, and shows discipline. His trajectory is exciting.”

Mahaveer agrees that being the only Indian on the grid is a point of pride, but also pressure.

🎯 “The pressure is real, but pressure builds diamonds. I use it to fuel my performance.”

Mahaveer’s goal is to compete in Formula 1.

🇮🇳 Carrying the Indian Dream ForwardMotorsport in India is still emerging, but Mahaveer sees momentum building. If the Indian Grand Prix were to return, he says, “It’ll be mega. It’ll inspire a whole generation.”

🎖️ The Road Ahead: Eyes on F1His short-term goal? Win the Italian GT Pro-Am title.His lifelong dream? Return to single-seaters and earn a full-time Formula One seat.

🗣️ His Message to India’s Aspiring Racers:

“Keep working. Keep learning. It all adds up. If your performance shines, the doors open—just trust the journey.”

✍️ Editorial Reflection

In a world where young Indians are often pushed toward convention, Mahaveer Raghunathan chose to chase the roar of engines and the thrill of tarmac. His journey is more than just a personal triumph—it’s a national statement.

He isn’t just racing Ferraris. He’s racing stereotypes.He isn’t just winning points. He’s winning hearts.And every time that scarlet car blazes through an Italian track, it carries with it the hope of a billion dreams.

🏁 Here’s to the ones who dare. The dreamers who drift. The Indians who fly.