India’s motorsport culture is still in its nascent stage, despite having hosted World championship events such as F1, MotoGP and Formula E. The country has had only two drivers in F1, the last of whom raced back in 2012. The key to keeping that supply line going is a proper grassroots-level programme, starting with karting. It is where things have been slow to grow, but the sport has steadily progressed over the last few years.

The sight of tiny tots, all of eight or nine years old, decked in racing suits and helmets, with their parents cheering them on at the opening round of the 2026 edition of the Meco FMSCI National Karting Championship here at the CoASTT circuit, is proof of that rising interest.

There was a grid of 75 drivers across four categories: Micro Max (8-12), Mini Max (10-14), Junior (12-15) and Senior (above 14) on Saturday, with a few more drivers set to join from subsequent rounds.

The increasing number of entries, with nine teams fielding drivers across classes, has also transformed the way the series is run.

Former National champion Armaan Ebrahim, who runs the M-Sport team, says: “The current championship has the biggest karting grid in Asia. Equipment-wise, we’re on par with the rest of Asia. The chassis used here is the same as in the World championships. There may be slightly different specifications, but fundamentally it’s the same equipment.”

The increasing professionalism has also translated into rising on-track standards. “I’m extremely impressed by the level of understanding shown by the youngsters. They are remarkably disciplined and focused. Even eight-year-olds display incredible concentration during races. They understand exactly what they’re doing, and that reflects the quality of coaching they receive,” says former racing driver Mira Erda, who is the Chief of Race Control here.

More importantly, as drivers look to pursue the sport seriously, the teams have had to adapt as well. “Every team is highly professional and employs international engine tuners, coaches and mechanics. It shows how seriously they take performance development, and all of this is excellent for the sport’s growth,” Armaan adds.