Mira Erda: “It is special to see girls race”

Meet Mira Erda - the first Indian woman to race in Formula 4. Over the years, she has achieved several milestones, including a podium finish in the Formula 4 South East Asia Women’s category Championship. She was also the first and only woman to compete in the JK Euro series, and won the Formula LGB Rookie Championship. 

Her journey began back in 2010, when she started racing in the JK Tyre National Rotax Max Championship in India and also competed in the Plus Yamaha SL International Championship in Malaysia—all at 9 years old. 

Today, Mira also runs her own racing track and academy in Vadodara and Ahmedabad, India, where she trains young kids and helps them take their first steps into the world of motorsport. 

“Since I was nine, all I cared about was speed,” Mira tells Females in Motorsport. “I didn’t even know what motorsport really was; I just wanted to race like my brother. 

Almost 15 years ago, motorsport wasn’t something many people in India knew about, especially for girls. So, for someone that young to even dream of racing was a big deal. 

“I didn’t even know boys and girls raced against each other,” she says. “I always thought there were separate sections for each. 

“Once I started racing against the boys, I loved it. It was something that really excited me. I thought, ‘You know what, let’s do this.’ And I still get that feeling every time I step on the racetrack. It feels like home. 

When she first started racing, there were people who doubted her. Some questioned whether girls were meant for this sport. Others even criticised her father for investing in her racing journey. 

“When I started being on the podiums, people began to understand that it’s not about gender - it’s about the work you put in,” she says. “And once you start getting results on the track, that’s what speaks the loudest. 

With every win, acceptance grew. Even her competitors saw her as an equal. 

Racing from such a young age really gives you a different way of looking at life. You start seeing the world through a racing lens, one that not everyone understands.

“Racing makes you mature really early,” Mira says. “There were a lot of things I had to let go of because I had a bigger dream. 

“I gave myself that time to work hard and chase those goals. 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, and moving from karting to single-seaters was a big challenge for Mira. 

“In go-karts, I was winning and confident,” she says. “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. 

“When I finally won the National Rookie Championship in Formula LGB, I knew all the effort was worth it. 

Racing isn’t just about being fast; it takes mental strength, patience, and a solid team behind you. 

“It’s not just about driving-it teaches you how to handle failure, take risks, and stay calm under pressure,” she says. “One bad race can affect a whole season, and you learn to keep going. 

Racing shaped her into who she is today. And now, she's passionate about creating a path for other girls in the sport. 

Today, Mira wears many hats - driver, coach, team principal, race official, and content creator. Her family built Erda’s Speedway, a proper go-karting track where people of all ages can come and experience motorsport. It’s one of the few approved tracks in the country and has even hosted big events like the Red Bull Kart Fight India Finals. 

She also runs Erda’s Racing Academy, where she trains over 100 kids every year. From teaching racing basics to building their fitness and confidence. She especially wants more girls to join the sport and often holds special sessions just for them. Even when she isn’t behind the wheel, she’s always on the track, helping others chase their dreams, just like she once did. 

“I love to train the kids and give them a chance to dream big,” she says.

“When I see one of them go out there and stand on a podium, it feels really special. It’s like watching a part of your own journey through them. It makes everything worth it.” 

Going back to that historic moment, becoming India’s first female F4 rookie winner, it’s clear that a win like that had to shift how people saw her. 

“Honestly, that shift started earlier, when I won the rookie championship,” she says. “Once I began winning races, especially overall wins, people in the motorsport community started supporting me more. 

“They knew I had it in me and pushed me to go further. That ‘women can’t race’ bias wasn’t really there anymore. 

But with success came new challenges. 

“The perception changed in another way, once you start winning, people expect you to keep winning,” she says. 

“That pressure to always be on top is real. And it gets to you. You have to learn to tune it out and focus on what you want, not what others expect.” 

No matter how far you go, sponsorships remain one of the biggest challenges in Indian motorsport. 

“I’m still figuring things out - trying to put together a budget to at least do some testing and maybe race two or three rounds,” she says. 

And just like Mira, sometimes you don’t need to have all figured out, just take the first step. She didn’t wait for opportunities; she built them. And she’s showing a whole new generation that they can, too.