Mumbai Falcons has run current F1 drivers like Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Arvid Linblad. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Even as there is a growing chatter around Formula One’s potential return to India in the near future, the country’s representation in the sport has been sparse. So far, there have been only two drivers who have managed to reach the glamorous world of F1, and there hasn’t been one on the grid since 2012.

Now, in a bid to identify potential future racing drivers, the Mumbai Falcons Racing Team is seeking to create a pathway to unearth talent, albeit in an unconventional way. 

One of the biggest problems is that the sport is the preserve of the rich, and the cost of trying to forge a career, even at the lowest levels, is prohibitive.

To address that, Mumbai Falcons - which competes in various championships in the UAE and the Middle East and has run current F1 drivers like Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Arvid Linblad - will host a nationwide Sim Racing championship in association with F1 to help some of the top performers transition to real-world racing. 

“The idea is basically to find the next F1 driver. That’s the ultimate goal. But when we got into the psyche kids, we found out it’s too expensive and dangerous. That’s when we thought of doing this: virtual-to-reality? And then, you never know, you can just find one star out of them and who can start coming to our academy in Dubai and move up the rungs from karting to F4, F3 and so on,” said Ameet Gadhoke, owner of Mumbai Falcons.

Participants will race from home on their console of preference at the first stage of screening. The second stage will be held in 10 cities as a zonal event, with an expected participation of nearly 10,000 across two sections: juniors (under-14) and seniors (over 14), all using the same equipment. 

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From there, 100 will be shortlisted from each zone and head to Mumbai for the next round, where they will progress through knockout rounds to identify the top 60 sim racers. The 60 will then vie for the big prize in the final.

Apart from this, Ameet also plans to identify promising talent in the under-14 section, where the top 1000 kids in the junior section will receive a training programme in karting with a four-stroke engine to select the top 100. 

“These 100 kids will go for a full-fledged two-week training with a two-stroke engine kart, and the top 36 will qualify for a karting championship. The top-ten drivers will then get subsidised training in karting and racing in the UAE.”

“Once people and parents understand that this is just not a gaming thing, but it’s a future path, then we expect more response, and we might find our next star,” Ameet expressed confidence.

Published on Jun 25, 2026