Thirtytwo-year-old Diana Pundole, from Pune, is set to create history as the first Indian woman to race a Ferrari in an international motorsport championship. She will represent India in the Ferrari Club Challenge Middle East, scheduled to be held between November 2025 to April 2026. In a male dominated area, Pundole’s entry reflects her discipline and perseverance.
She will be racing in the Ferrari 296 Challenge, the brand’s newest and most advanced -track cars, in the championship to be hosted by the world’s most iconic Formula One circuits, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The championship will test drivers on speed, precision, and endurance in the high-performance Ferraris.
Being the first woman to represent India in the international championship will be both a personal and national triumph. She said: “I dreamt for years to represent India and race in a Ferrari on a global stage. I hope it would encourage more women in Indian motorsport to follow their passion fearlessly.”
Pundole began her motorsport career in 2018 through the JK Tyre Women in Motorsport programme. With her dedication and consistency, she quickly rose to participating in the national championships. Her biggest achievement so far was in 2024, when she became the first Indian woman to win a national racing title, the MRF Saloon Cars Championship held at the Madras International Circuit, overtaking several top male contestants.
Pundole honed her technical skills undergoing rigorous and strict training on international circuits like Mugello, Monza, and the Dubai Autodrome. The training helped her in updating herself to compete in global events. Her participation in the Ferrari Club Challenge is being sponsored by Aligned Automation and Ferrari New Delhi.
Diana credits her late father for igniting her love for racing. Currently, she is getting trained in balancing physical conditioning through simulator sessions to get equipped for the high speed racing, which goes beyond 250 kmph.
This post was last modified on 30 October 2025 9:16 pm
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