Mira Erda

Mira Erda is India’s trailblazing female open-wheel racer who became the first Indian woman to win internationally in Formula 4 and the only woman to compete in the JK Euro Series. A commercial pilot, racing academy owner, and fierce competitor, she’s shattered age and gender stereotypes since starting her career at nine years old.

EARLY YEARS

Growing up in Vadodara, Gujarat, Mira Erda had something most aspiring racers only dream of: a father who believed in her enough to build a karting track in their backyard. At eight years old, she started karting on that very track, and by nine, she was already competing professionally—a move that would make her the youngest girl in Indian motorsport at the national level.

Her first professional outing came in 2010 at the JK Tyre National Rotax Max Championship after just 25 days of training. Fresh-faced and completely new to the competitive racing world, she also headed to Malaysia that same year to compete in the Plus Yamaha SL International Championship. “It was so new to me because all the guys over there had the experience of how the sport works,” she recalled. “I was completely new to it so I didn’t know anything at that time. Being able to try fast cars is something I have focused on and I wanted to enjoy the first experience that I had. So I was super happy that I got into this type of sport.”

But the early days weren’t all sunshine and sponsorships. Her first karting trainer was unsupportive, and being the only girl among the boys proved challenging. Still, her father remained her anchor, investing not just money but unwavering encouragement into her budding career—a support system that would prove essential when things got tough.

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond the racetrack, Erda carved out an entirely different career in the skies. She worked as a commercial pilot for Indigo Airlines, somehow balancing the demands of flying commercial routes with a racing schedule that included up to six races per month. It’s the kind of juggling act that would make most people’s heads spin, but for Mira, it was about pursuing every passion fully. “I gave myself that time to work hard and chase those goals,” she explained. “Slowly, I found a balance. I make time for myself now to relax and enjoy life. But when I’m racing, I give it everything. Nothing comes without sacrifice.”

She also runs Erda’s Speedway, her own racing track and academy in Vadodara and Ahmedabad, where she trains young kids and wears multiple hats—driver, coach, team principal, race official, and content creator. The track, built by her family and officially approved, has hosted prestigious events including the Red Bull Kart Fight India Finals. It’s her way of giving back and creating pathways for the next generation, especially girls who want to race.

EARLY SUCCESS

Erda’s karting years from 2010 to 2012 were a masterclass in patience and persistence. She spent two grueling years learning everything she could—studying her competitors’ weaknesses, experimenting with different car setups, and building the skills she needed to win. “Those two years I had to learn about a kart I had to learn my competitors weak points I had to try different things,” she said, “and in 2012 when I finally got the opportunity I had the skill I needed I had the car setup that I needed and I was up there winning races.”

One race from that 2012 season became the stuff of personal legend. Starting dead last in the final, she overtook the entire field in just two to three laps, crossing the finish line first. “In just 2 to 3 laps, I overtook everyone and came first by leading on the race which is one of my best racing experiences so far,” she beamed. It was proof that her learning curve had paid off—and then some.

In 2014, at just 14 years old, she made the leap from karting to formula cars, entering the Formula LGB class as the youngest female driver in the field. The transition was brutal. “In go-karts, I was winning and confident,” she admitted. “But, when I moved to formula cars at 14, I was suddenly racing older, more experienced drivers. I thought it would be easy, but I had to start from zero. There were moments I wanted to quit and go back to karting, but my dad reminded me how far I’d come and told me to be patient.”

She stuck with it, and that patience paid off when she won the Formula LGB Rookie Championship, defeating stronger male competitors and earning the FMSCI Rookie Champion of the Year award. She also secured a podium finish in the Formula 4 South East Asia Women’s category Championship, becoming the first Indian woman to compete in F4—and the first to win internationally in the category.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2010: Competed in first professional race at JK Tyre National Rotax Max Championship after 25 days of training; became youngest girl in Indian motorsport at national level at age 9.
• 2010: Competed in Plus Yamaha SL International Championship in Malaysia.
• 2012: Won race after starting last and overtaking entire field in 2-3 laps.
• 2014: Became youngest Formula 4 girl driver in India in JK Racing Championship.
• 2014: Entered Formula LGB class as youngest female driver.
• Undated: Won Formula LGB Rookie Championship; received FMSCI Rookie Champion of the Year award.
• Undated: Became first Indian female racer to win internationally in Formula 4.
• Undated: Achieved podium finish in Formula 4 South East Asia Women’s category Championship as first Indian woman in F4.
• 2017: Became first and only Indian woman to compete in JK Euro Series, driving a BMW FB02.
• Career totals: 6 race wins, 14 runner-up finishes, approximately 75 races at national and international levels.

INSPIRATIONS

Her father remains her biggest influence—the man who built her a karting track, invested in her dreams, and reminded her to keep going when she wanted to quit. But there was another moment that crystallized her ambition. As a young racer, she traveled to Malaysia and watched the JK Euro cars compete. “I saw those cars over there and I was like I am going to drive this car one day in future,” she remembered. Six or seven years later, she achieved that exact goal, becoming the first and only Indian woman in the JK Euro Series. “That was one of my biggest goals that I achieved,” she said, her pride unmistakable.

REPUTATION

Erda is widely regarded as one of India’s foremost female open-wheel racers, a pioneer who has broken age and gender stereotypes with a never-quit attitude that proves she belongs in the elite class alongside more experienced competitors. The motorsport media has followed her journey with positive coverage, highlighting her TEDx talk and various interviews where her story continues to inspire. As a Red Bull racer and the operator of her own racing academy, she’s not just competing—she’s actively creating opportunities for the next generation, particularly girls who see themselves in her story. “It is special to see girls race,” she’s noted, a simple statement that carries the weight of someone who knows exactly how hard it is to be the only woman in the room—or on the track.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Mira’s ambition remains crystal clear: “My aim is to reach the highest level of motorsport that I can.” She continues to run Erda’s Speedway in Vadodara and Ahmedabad, training young racers and juggling her multiple roles in the sport. While specific 2025 racing schedules weren’t available in the research, her track record suggests she’s far from finished chasing the checkered flag—and she’s bringing a generation of young Indian racers along for the ride.

References:

TEDxIIITA Talk – Mira Erda
Sportsmatik Interview – Mira Erda
Females in Motorsport – Mira Erda Profile
Autopunditz – Mira Erda Feature
Red Bull – Mira Erda JK Euro Series
Fast and Fearless – Mira Erda 2018
DW – Young Female Racers in India