Enaam Ahmed drives to success on race tracks around the world

LONDON: Proudly waving the flag of Pakistan the world over within the Formulation racing circuit, Enaam Ahmed has turn into the primary ever Pakistani to be a World Champion in Karting — beating the data of Formulation One drivers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

Not solely that, however Enaam can also be a British Formulation 3 Champion —  the first-ever high-level Formulation Championship winner within the historical past of Pakistan — who broke the file of Ayrton Senna by successful 13 races in a single season.

Driving automobiles at a median 200 miles per hour, the 23-year-old goes locations along with his successful streaks on harmful tracks, ensuring that his automotive carries each British and Pakistani flags. Enaam is among the brightest and most fun younger racing abilities in motorsport. He has been successful Championships and breaking data from the age of 14. Enaam can also be essentially the most profitable Pakistani heritage racing driver ever within the historical past of motorsport as a result of he’s also called essentially the most profitable British Formulation 3 driver in historical past.

Enaam was born to Pakistani dad and mom in London 23 years in the past. It was on the age of eight that he began taking curiosity in racing. His dad and mom began funding their son’s ardour by sending him to native Go-karting tracks for kids however they’d no concept that their son would turn into a European and world champion on the age of 14 — one yr youthful than Lewis Hamilton who was 15 when he grew to become the world champion.

When Enaam introduced his resolution of automotive racing to his dad and mom, they instructed him they might not be funding him anymore and he would wish to study to face on his personal ft to discover his alternatives or return to regular life and end his college diploma after which do no matter he desires to.

Enaam left the consolation of his residence instantly to dwell in Japan, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, and the US to deal with skilled driving. He has not regarded again ever since.

In an interview with Geo and The Information, the star racer defined his achievements. 

He mentioned: “I used to be 14 years outdated once I gained 5 championships in a single yr. The 2 most necessary ones are the European Championship in Go-Karting. I gained that once I was 14 years outdated whereas Lewis Hamilton gained when he was 15 years outdated. 

Then, on the age of 17, I grew to become the British Formulation 3 Champion, the primary time ever a Pakistani gained a serious Motorsport championship beating the file of Ayrton Senna.”

Naturally, Enaam felt very proud when he beat Lewis Hamilton’s file on the age of 14 in Go Karting which is essentially the most aggressive racing one can do at that age, and beating Lewis Hamilton’s file was an enormous achievement. 

There was lots of stress on him to win these competitions for himself so he might make his title but additionally to impress his dad and mom and to point out them he made the precise resolution of leaving residence at a really younger age — when most of his childhood pals performed across the close by Hyde Park.

An important issue for Enaam has been to win these accomplishments as a Pakistani-origin racer. He mentioned with pleasure:” For me, it issues essentially the most that I gained these races on the world stage as a Pakistani and races on the world championship stage and the European Championship stage as a Pakistani. Not simply to do it however to win it, this makes me very proud and there’s a lengthy technique to go.”

The 23-year-old has a driving simulator arrange at his residence in London when he’s along with his dad and mom. Nonetheless, he spends most of his time within the US as that’s the place he drives automobiles as knowledgeable. 

Talking on the matter, he mentioned: “The coaching is often twice a day. That’s not the toughest half although. Essentially the most troublesome factor to do is to exit at that younger age and get sponsors as these are sponsors who fund races. I at all times need to carry out and win in an effort to keep within the sport. In case you don’t carry out there aren’t any sponsors behind you to maneuver ahead. For instance, proper now I race in the US within the sequence known as Indy Nxt which is main me to IndyCar — the largest sequence within the US.

“I’m the primary ever and the one Pakistani to participate in these races. Alhamdulillah, I’m fortunate that I’ve large sponsors from America who’re sponsoring me this yr to race in America and so they have enabled me to dwell my dream and get to the highest within the two greatest racing sequence.”

Racing is a sport that’s thought of distinctive and daring because the drivers are required to have lots of braveness, particularly driving at nicely over 200 miles an hour at excessive velocity involving fast turns, twists, and harmful corners. 

Enaam’s mom doesn’t watch any of his racing and has averted watching his races, as she doesn’t need to see her son driving at such harmful speeds.

The racing star says that driving Formulation automobiles is a harmful sport, particularly within the US as a result of the typical velocity there may be a lot greater. 

He explains: “The partitions are very shut and these are concrete partitions. Whenever you hit a concrete wall at 200 miles an hour you possibly can kill your self. Racing in America means individuals get damage and even killed. That’s harmful however the hazard is what this sport is all about. 

“And that makes it thrilling for me as a result of, on the finish of the day, you don’t have anything to lose. My mum and pop don’t agree with this however that’s the best way life is.”

The British-Pakistani racing star left residence on the age of 13 and his father instructed him he must discover sponsors on his personal. “My father instructed me you’re leaving college; you’ll have to discover sponsors and your area of interest. 

“I had no sponsors at the beginning however I gained large races, made and broke data and the sponsors got here behind me. I had lots of assist from Pakistani Individuals. There are two large sponsors.”

The system racing driver says he has come throughout a number of Pakistanis and tried to carry out with a number of of them. He says that they couldn’t make it large as a result of they by no means had the required assist base. 

“I used to be very fortunate that I used to be racing within the UK from a younger age and I had extra publicity. I educated with the perfect within the racing area. The issue within the South Asian nations of Pakistan and India is there aren’t any racing automotive services and the federal government pays no consideration. There are hardly any good Go Karting tracks, those made are in a foul form. 

“Examine this with the European nations the place there are 20 tracks in each nation and the game is liked by thousands and thousands. I’m racing within the US proper now and participating within the greatest racing occasions. No Pakistani or South Asian has made it this far ever. The one greater precedence is to win the Indianapolis 500 race. Then I need to be the primary Formulation One World champion for Pakistan.”

Enaam additionally shared that massive prices are concerned within the thrilling sport. In line with him, his staff spends a minimal of $8 million every season. 

“Formulation 1 is $150 million a yr. Pakistan doesn’t have that type of useful resource. Folks within the West spend enormous quantities on this sport. I’m fortunate and glad that I’m favored and picked as a driver. I’ve at all times taken dangers and my perception is that don’t look again and don’t maintain again, even when the world is in opposition to me I’ve at all times believed that I’m the perfect.”

Enaam is presently collaborating within the IndyNXT sequence within the US.

About his future plans, he’s optimistic. He says: “I need to end this yr’s season off and race within the Indianapolis 500 subsequent yr and be the primary Pakistani to take action. Then I’ll set my goal at entering into Formulation 1.”