We had the opportunity to speak to Akshay Gupta before he takes on one of the most gruelling endurance races in the world, the 24 Hours of Nurburgring. We discussed everything from his story of how he got here and how there is much more motorsports has to offer outside of Formula 1.

For those who don’t know you yet, can you tell us a bit about your background and how your motorsport journey began?

My name is Akshay Gupta, and I am currently racing in the Production car class & TCR class of the Nurburgring Endurance Championship (formerly VLN), while doing other endurance races across the world. My goal right now is to conquer The Green Hell. I want to set lap records here and win championships before I move on to other racing tracks and championships across the world.

I am also a tech entrepreneur who built a Connected Car startup focusing on the consumer market and sold it to Spinny in December 2021. I love building companies as much as I love racing cars.

Was there a moment when you thought to yourself that this wasn’t just a hobby, but something you could pursue professionally?

A lot of times. When I was doing the Nissan GT Academy, my laptimes in a completely new car, on the first lap, were faster than their factory driver on a couple of occasions.

Last year, doing my first ever race with the team, on a track like Nurburgring, I closed the gap to the last year’s champion within a few laps, and we had very close competition throughout the year. By the end of the year, we were beating them.

Regularly, in our class, we have drivers like WTCC champion, World Karting Champion, LeMans winners, ex-F1 drivers, and F2 drivers who have competed to gain their license. My laptimes were always faster than all of them. Yes, one can argue that for them it isn’t as serious since they are competing in the class to get their license. But as racing drivers, we are always trying to get the best out of the car.

After you measure yourself against so many drivers on so many occasions, you start thinking if this can be more than a hobby. To be honest, most of my racing is partly funded by the teams, so I’m already doing it semi-professionally.

What is one thing you love about being a racing driver, and one thing you hate about being a racing driver?

The feeling when you’re inside the car, the mind-body sync, it’s like you’re in a different dimension, there’s this disconnect between you and the world. I absolutely love it. I’m addicted to it. There’s this quote, “Racing makes Heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty” I’ve had this on my wall for a few years now. I wouldn’t want to degrade the love I have for the sport by comparing it to a drug addiction, but there’s no other analogy that I find apt to describe how addictive it really is. The feeling.

I hate everything that it takes to get there (laughs).. like every sport, the hours of training and rehab, the hours of making the money, travelling half way across the world 13-14 times a year, living in multiple time zones, the chaos of building & breaking racecars and the operations of it, the amount of money this all takes. It’s just exhausting. It’s funny how we spend 99% of the time in misery for those few hours of pure joy.

That to me is motor racing.

You stepped away from motorsport to build a startup, and returned to racing just six days after it was acquired. What was going through your mind while you were away from motorsports, and what brought you back? Or was it always the goal to build the startup and then fund your own racing?

I always dreamt of racing cars again. By the end of the 5th or 6th year, the literal dreams had started fading, but I always knew that I was partly building it to get back behind the wheel. There were other motivators, I’ve this idealistic side in me which wants to solve a lot of world problems, and at that time, I had started my business wanting to partly solve the road safety problems in the country.

But the thing that drove me the most to endure the pain and suffering that is running a business is another poster in my room which had this image of the cockpit of my dream racecar, the Porsche 911 RSR, and a line underneath it that said, “Racing is a life sentence”..

That motivated me for all those years.

The moment I got the cheque, I knew what I wanted to spend it on.

There’s this funny incident: I was hanging out with friends, and the wife of my closest friend told me that once I get married, my wife will make me stop racing, and I said it wouldn’t happen. We were on the verge of making a large bet on this, and my friend jumped into the conversation and told his wife that no one can convince this fool to stop racing in this world. This guy knows me the most, so that sums up my relationship with motorsport.

How did the opportunity to race in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring for the first time come about?

I always wanted to do the 24 hours. Last year, I couldn’t do it because I had not fully recovered from my hand surgeries and broken ribs. I broke my ribs in June, and the race was within a month. I didn’t want to take a chance because I’d broken the same rib back to back in a period of one month.

This year, we had a major crash in the last NLS race (May), and there wasn’t enough time left to prepare the car. So, I started speaking to other teams. There were a few offers, but AsBest made the most lucrative one. The prospect of going into the biggest race of the year with a team and car you know well, offering you such lucrative terms, was too good to reject.

Tell us about the team and the car you’re driving this weekend.

I’m competing with AsBest Racing in the Cupra Leon TCR. The TCR spec cars are used worldwide in various competitions, including the World Touring Car Championship (one of the 4/5 world champions crowned at the annual FIA prize-giving ceremony)

Compared to what I usually race, the Hyundai i30N Production spec racecar, the TCR is much faster and easier. It weighs 300kg less, has 50-70 more horsepower, a lot of downforce, race ABS, completely different suspension geometry, and you are sitting right behind the B pillar.

It should be 40 seconds faster around the ring than the production car and quite close to a GT4 car in speed.

What are your goals for this race, and also long-term, somewhere down the line, in a few years?

My goal is always to win. It’s a familiar car (Dubai) and a very, very familiar track! The teammates are familiar. The team is familiar. I think we should have the pace to win this one if all goes well. But it’s endurance racing and it is Nurburgring, so even if you’re the fastest outright by a mile, a win is not guaranteed. So, I’m here to give it my all.

This year, I’ll be testing GT4 cars with some teams. The idea is to decide whether I want to go GT4 or TCR for the next 3-4 years. TCR is something I’ve tried and enjoyed, but it has been a while since I drove a GT4 car, maybe a decade. Geographically, I want to continue racing in Europe for a few more years and then move to the Americas.

I might end up buying a car in the next few years. I’m working on something. It’s much better financially that way.

Of course, the ultimate goal is to race in GT3 cars across the world and win every single iconic race!

For someone who is just starting out in his racing career and wants to one day race in the 24h of Nurburgring, what would your advice be?

Look beyond F1. In the last 2 years of racing at the ring, I might have met 100s of drivers, and it’s astonishing to see how many of those drivers make a living racing at the Nurburgring alone. There are so many parallel ladders to explore apart from the usual F4>F3>F2>F1 ladder. Yes, you’ll get the best talent in the world competing with you over there, and that will hone your skills to do better, but it will also burn the biggest hole in your pocket.

There are so many ways to climb up the ladder of becoming a professional racing driver while spending 1/20th of the amount that the F1 ladder will take, with maybe 50-60 times better odds at making it.

Majorly, it’s not just about speed in the racecar. You’ve got to have the right attitude, learn how to work with the team and engineers, set up the car, and have a good relationship with everyone, including the co-drivers. Network and know everyone in the paddock. Opportunities knock. You’ve got to place yourself in the best position to grab them.

I would say that if you get everything right and are talented, you can find yourself with a factory seat on shoe shoestring budget too.

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Akshay’s journey is nothing short of inspiring, and it shows the next generation of racing drivers who want to be professionals that there is a big world of motorsports out there, outside of Formula 1. Here is wishing Akshay good luck for his upcoming race and whatever he has next in the future.

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X/, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

At the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe round in Monza, Desi Racing Co. caught up
with Sai Sanjay — Indian driver for CSA Racing in the Silver Cup. Sharing the
McLaren 720S GT3 EVO with teammates Edgar Maloigne and Maxime Robin, Sai
spoke about his journey from karting in India to Europe’s top endurance circuits,
reflecting on where it began, where he is, and where he’s headed.

“I don’t know, I just never thought I couldn’t” -Lighting McQueen

Q1. Starting Days

What’s a memory from your early racing days in India that still pushes you today?

“The main motivation that pushes me is that… I think I have the potential to reach it
and to make the top level in endurance racing.

When I started in karting, we didn’t know if I had the talent or anything like that. But
once I started showing results and when I got results in the MRF F2000, GT Cup and
then British GT last year, we said, OK, we’ve got the potential and we’ll try as much
as possible to make it to the top level in endurance racing, GT World Challenge.
Even in round one, I was very quick and that further proved the point that we can
pursue this. And so, yeah, that’s the main motivation that pushes me.”

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” – Seneca

Q2. Recent past

What challenges have you faced recently as an Indian driver in Europe?

“There’s less track time for drivers in general and there’s less track time for people
from India. If you want to succeed here, then you must go through all this.

Now there are a lot of other options as well with regards to sim racing. You can get to
know the tracks because there are a few tracks in this world where there are no
testing days. It’s very difficult for me to adapt to the new track. Whereas when you
already come prepared with the digital sim racing and everything, if you go to any
track, you can adapt quickly. Also, I think the biggest challenge would be the grid, top
level, because you have factory drivers from all the manufacturers here, and they
won every kind of endurance as you can think of.”

“To finish first, first you must finish.” – Rick Mears

Q3. Present

What’s your mindset before a race like Monza?

“It is always the same, take the start, complete the first lap, don’t be very aggressive and try making up 10 positions at the start, stay out of basic penalties (pit lane speeding/track limits) because they add up to your race at the end of 3 hours and becomes crucial, finish the race. I also think it’s better to be lose two or three positions at the start than to risk damaging your car. In sprint races, you can take more risks but in endurance racing, it’s not worth it.”

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

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A post shared by Sai Sanjay (@saisanjay_33)

Q4. Next steps

What habit or mindset have you recently changed to level up your game?

“Stay in the present, think what’s best for you at that moment, stay calm and to prepare yourself as much as possible physically/mentally. I think that will help you in adapting to the track and performing at your best. I wouldn’t say anything recent, but I think mindset wise you just must believe in yourself because sometimes the result won’t go in your way, and you might be slower than your teammate or slower than other cars for some reason but once you know that you have the talent, you should never doubt yourself.”

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Q5. Eventual goal

What’s the dream that keeps you going through it all — WEC, Formula 1, or beyond?

“My aim is to become a factory driver in one of the manufacturers. Once you become a factory driver, I think it’s probably like a dream life because you get to race and you get paid to race and you race in these amazing tracks like Monza, Paul Ricard, and Spa. Eventually of course you win Spa 24, Le Mans 24, Nürburgring 24, and when I achieve it, there’s probably nothing more on the bucket list.

Racing in WEC would be a dream as well. There’s Hyper car and GT3 as well. The Hyper car grid is becoming big. I think there are a lot of opportunities coming up in endurance racing. But my end goal would be to win, obviously.”

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A post shared by Sai Sanjay (@saisanjay_33)

Message to Upcoming Indian Drivers — from Sai Sanjay

“My message to young Indian drivers would be to explore different options in motorsport. A lot of drivers look only at Formula 1 and think, ‘This is it.’ But realistically, there are just 20 seats in F1 — and to get one, you usually have to win Formula 2.

When you look at endurance racing, there are far more opportunities. It’s just as fun — if not more — and I think that’s the path more Indian drivers should consider.”

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Sai Sanjay – an upcoming racer with a quiet belief that he can put results on the board. It’s hope, paired with conviction, that drives him forward. He focuses less on what’s missing, and more on understanding how the sport actually works and that’s what makes him well-prepared. Grounded in realism, yet fueled by ambition, he knows his time will come. While there’s a storm on the racetrack, it’s the calm in his mind that keeps him sharp. He trusts his gut, doesn’t overthink the path, and stays relentless; a driver firmly On The Right Track to becoming a winner, a champion.

I met him right after qualifying, sitting in his motorhome with his brother. A quiet, warm moment of support. And maybe that’s what we all need: someone in our corner. That’s exactly why Indian motorsport needs more voices in the paddock, and more of us cheering when the chequered flag drops. We’ve waited long enough to be in the paddock. Now, we’re here to stay.

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Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X/, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

At the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup round in Monza, Desi Racing
Co. sat down with Arjun Maini — Indian driver for HRT Ford Performance. Competing in
the Pro category, Maini shares the #64 Ford Mustang GT3 with teammates Jann
Mardenborough and Thomas Drouet. He reflected on his journey from his early days in
India to competing on Europe’s premier endurance racing stage, discussing his past
experiences, current challenges, and future aspirations.

“We didn’t realize we were making memories; we just knew we were having fun.” — A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh)”

Q1. Starting Days

When you look back to your earliest days in India, what’s one moment that still fuels you
before every race?

“Honestly, it’s that feeling of just going to the karting track with my dad and Kush. No
pressure, just the excitement of knowing I’d get to drive a go-kart that day.
That memory — that pure love for racing — has stayed with me.” – Arjun Maini

There’s something pure about the way Arjun remembers his early days, the sound of
engines, the joy of driving, and the absence of expectations. It’s easy to forget that
behind a competitive athlete is often just a kid who fell in love with the sport. That early
feeling, untainted by pressure, is what still fuels him today.

“Be like water, my friend.” – Bruce Lee

Q2. Recent Past

You’ve shifted across F2, DTM, and now endurance racing — was this always the plan?

“I mean, when growing up, I always wanted to be in Formula One. That was always my
dream in my earliest single-seater days. And honestly — wrongly, I think — I didn’t look
at this side of racing as a part of the career. But you know, I got proven wrong. It’s a great world out here.” -Arjun Maini

His views reflect a quiet belief that endurance and other formats are where the sport
still lives in its rawest form. The message of adaptability runs deep in his story — it’s not
about one path, but about staying open to them all. Simply put, being paid to drive race
cars — that itself is a dream.

“There’s more to life than driving in circles.” – Sebastian Vettel

Q3. Present

What’s something people don’t see about what it takes to keep performing at this level
— mentally or emotionally? Especially beyond track time and physical training?

“As much as you love racing, there needs to be a very balanced life in order for you to
also perform on track. For sure you have to work hard and it has to be a priority, no
doubt, but also don’t close yourself off from other stuff. Enjoy off-time a little bit and
when you’re on track, go out there and kill.” – Arjun Maini

Maini’s perspective feels both raw and reflective. Behind the helmet is someone who’s
learned the hard way that obsession without balance burns out even the most
passionate. Talking from personal experience and acknowledging that this lesson rarely
sinks in until it’s lived — Arjun, standing on Italian soil, admits that sometimes La Dolce
Vita needs to be embraced off-track in order to hunt down your goals on it.

“Learning never exhausts the mind.” – Leonardo da Vinci

Q4. What’s next?

I believe everything in life — especially motorsport — keeps teaching us something new.
What has been your current battle?

“I would say my race starts, especially in the sprint races, can be better and that’s
something I’m working on. Everything else seems to be in a good window right now, but
as the season progresses, there will be stuff I will learn, not just with my driving, but how
to make the car work underneath me, how to use the tools in the car better, and there’s
always something you can learn every session.” – Arjun Maini

Growth is the only constant. If you feel there’s nothing left to learn, it’s time to change
tracks — literally. Arjun’s mindset reflects quiet confidence. He’s not chasing
perfection, he’s chasing The Right Track — session by session.

“You can’t aim for success if you don’t know what it looks like to you.” – Lewis Hamilton

Q5. Eventual Goal

Moving from here, what does success really look like for you — a title, a legacy, or
something more personal?

“I’m quite happy with my start at Ford, to be honest. So, yeah, of course, I want to stay in
this world. A dream would be to race in the Le Mans in top class and win, it would be
absolutely amazing.” – Arjun Maini

Always striving for the next big thing while keeping his foundational roots alive — that’s
what makes Arjun’s character complete. He’s not just racing for a result; he’s racing for
a future that carries both passion and purpose.

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A strong spirit, paired with the smile of a young kid about to go karting with his family —
that’s what best describes Arjun Maini. He’s carried that spirit with him all the way to
today. And toward the end of our chat, he acknowledged something simple, yet
powerful — the presence of a fellow Indian in the paddock.
Motorsport, and Arjun especially, need more of our countrymen trackside — not just to
be seen, but to be felt.

Because every driver needs a home crowd — and Arjun is still waiting for his.

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X/, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.