Everyone has the right to dream big however to effectuate one’s aspirations into existence is no loaf stroll.
Kids have this drift to spin dreams of their own realm but to handle
the dream and extract reality out of it in youth or adolescence is a different story
altogether.
Similar is the story of Chittesh Mandody, a 24-year-old F1 racer.
Since his childhood, he desired to be a racer. When he was merely eight-year-old when
he would sneak in his grandfather’s garage and be attracted by the appeal of those astonishing cars. He always wanted to drive them.
I started taking interest in racing at the age of eight. As a young kid, I would go to the garage, set up by my great-grandfather, and often wanted to drive those luxury cars.
His interest in motorsports wasn’t an unnatural choice given his family lineage of car
mechanics that had been running the business for the past 85 years. Their garage was
one of its kind in Kolhapur given the royal family sent their cars for repair in their
garage ever since it started.
It all started from there. The passion for driving, the dream of becoming an F1 racer,
and this journey got a meaning when I reached the final of the JK Tyres Karting National Championship in 2002-03.
-he said
I had to quit my passion after 3-4 years as it was getting more and more expensive.
This made me give second thoughts if I really wanted to pursue racing as a career
option. One of the major problems every driver faces when he is building his career in
motorsport is money.For me too, money was a big problem. It’s quite an expensive sport and we were always running short of money, however, I had immense support from JK Tyres and my dad, who supported me and helped me reach the level where I am now.
He was lucky enough when he got a second chance in 2007, thanks to support of
Kolhapur businessman Shivaji Mohite. He won Rotax Junior Championship in 2007
and since then there has been no looking back for the youngster.
The foremost pain was the lack of funds still anyhow Shivaji sir used up and
sponsored me for the JK Tyres National Karting Championship in 2007.
-he said.
Chittesh now is also running a car detailing business besides training the drivers for
upcoming racing tournaments.
He is very dissatisfied with the way the government takes up racing in the country.
Unlike other sports, racing doesn’t get any government support. There is a limit
beyond which you can’t expect private companies to support you.So, most racers are
forced to rethink their future. India does have a lot of motorsport enthusiasts, but
money is always the hindrance.
-he says.
When it comes to not having many Indian F1 drivers he thinks it all comes down to
sponsorship because currently there is not good enough infrastructure.
India does have a lot of motorsport enthusiasts, but money is always the hindrance.
-he added.
