Indian Motorsports
EXCLUSIVE: Sai Sanjay on Breaking Barriers, Factory Dreams, and the Road Ahead in GT Racing
In an exclusive chat at the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe round in Monza, Desi Racing Co. sat down with Indian talent Sai Sanjay, a rising star in endurance racing.
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
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
Indian Motorsports
Goa Street Circuit Moves to a New Venue for 2026
Racing Promotions Pvt Ltd, along with the Government of Goa, has confirmed a venue change for the upcoming Goa Street Circuit. The event will now take place at Mopa, with the first race scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026. The street circuit was originally planned to be held in Bogda, Vasco da Gama, but protests in the region led to the venue being shifted.
Racing Promotions Pvt Ltd and the Government of Goa have announced a change in venue for the Goa Street Circuit. The event will now be held at Mopa, with the first race scheduled for 14 and 15 February. The street circuit was initially planned for Bogda. However, following protests in the area, the venue was moved to Mopa.
The Initially Proposed Venue
The originally proposed location for the Goa Street Circuit was Bogda, a locality in Vasco da Gama. The event was projected as a significant milestone, with the circuit being described as South Asia’s first oceanfront racetrack.
Speaking on the project, Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant stated that the Goa government would spend Rs. 52 crore on the international motorsport event, which was planned to be held in the state for three years. He also said the organisers, Racing Promotions Private Limited, would invest Rs. 176 crore, with the majority of the government’s contribution allocated to infrastructure development.
The Protests
Plans for the proposed oceanfront street circuit were affected following protests by local activists. Concerns were raised about the inconvenience to area residents, with calls to cancel the event. Following this, Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant announced that the event would be postponed and relocated to a new venue.
The New Venue
The new venue is located just outside Manohar International Airport (GOX), with the proposed street circuit situated on airport property. The track is expected to feature 12 turns and run clockwise.
The First Race
The Goa Street Circuit will host its first race during Round 4 of the Indian Racing League, scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026.
The Goa round was initially scheduled for November 2025. Due to protests at the originally proposed venue, the location was changed, and the event was deferred to the 2026 season.
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.
Formula 1
How did Kush Maini perform in the Formula 1 post-season test?
Kush Maini became only the third Indian driver to take part in an official Formula 1 session, after Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok.
Kush Maini got a chance to drive Alpine’s 2025 challenger, the A525 in the post-season young driver test on Tuesday following the Abu Dhabi GP. This marked his first time driving a modern Formula 1 machinery, as the previous F1 tests were part of the ‘Testing Previous Cars’ programme. He also became the third Indian driver to take part in a official Formula 1 session, which is more than a decade later.
How were the test cars different from the ones used in 2025 Abu Dhabi GP weekend?
Regular drivers and rookie drivers ran two different types of cars during the test. A mule car adapted to approximate 2026 performance levels was assigned to the senior and more experienced drivers, while lightly modified 2025 cars were used by the young and rookie drivers. It’s also worth noting that a 290-300 kmph speed limit was enforced throughout the test. It should also be noted that the lap times are not representative, as each team follows different run plan and testing objectives set by Pirelli.
The Performance? Super impressive!
Desi Racing Co understands that both Kush Maini and Pierre Gasly ran the 2026 mule car, unlike several other teams. Both drivers followed the same run plan, with only minor setup changes tailored to their individual driving styles, while the baseline setup remained identical.
The only key difference between the two cars was tyre allocation. Maini ran on the 2025 tyres, while Gasly tested the new 2026 rubber. Across the test, Kush Maini finished just 0.111 seconds off Pierre Gasly’s pace, an impressive showing for the Indian driver given it was his first outing in the A525.
The Morning session
Kush Maini took to the track for the first time in modern Formula 1 machinery and set a best time of 1:27.544, just a tenth of a second slower than Pierre Gasly’s 1:27.433. In the morning session Maini completed a total of 59 laps, which is a lap more than the race distance of the Abu Dhabi GP.
The Afternoon session
Kush Maini headed out in the afternoon session for two race runs alongside Pierre Gasly. We understand that on one of Maini’s runs, he was quicker than Gasly, while on the second he matched Gasly’s pace. After completing the two runs, Maini’s day came to an end, while Gasly stayed on track for one additional race run. Kush Maini completed 69 laps in the afternoon session, bringing the total to 129 laps which is more than double the race distance of the Abu Dhabi GP.
Here is What Kush Maini has to say about the test
“What an amazing experience for me. Firstly, thanks to the team for the opportunity and for all their effort in helping me prepare and executing a really solid day. Everyone at the team has been super to work with, so professional and I have learned a lot today. I felt comfortable and I could just focus everything on completing the run plans, lap by lap. The car ran well, it is just so well engineered and nice to drive, so physically it felt good, but maybe I will have some fatigue in the coming days. It was really cool to have Pierre next to me; he is probably the best driver coach to have so thanks to him too. I think today will take a while to sink in and I am just really grateful to have had this chance.” – Kush Maini
Dave Greenwood, Racing Director, Alpine F1 Team
“Today was our final on-track running of 2025 at the Abu Dhabi post-season test. Kush has had a smooth day in the car, for his first time in a full test session with the team in an official capacity. He worked very hard with the engineers in preparation and has given us some very good feedback from his running, so well done to him for his enthusiasm and professionalism.” – Dave Greenwood
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.
Indian Motorsports
Super Formula to race at India’s Buddh International Circuit?
A delegation from Japan Race Promotion (JRP), the organizers of Super Formula, visited the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida to inspect the track and discuss a potential future race.
Japan’s premier single-seater championship, Super Formula, could soon make its debut in India. A delegation from Japan Race Promotion (JRP), the organizers of the series visited the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida this week to inspect the facilities and explore the possibility of adding India to the championship’s future calendar.
The high-level delegation included Yoshihisa Ueno (President), Takuya Hori (Technical Director), Takashi Matsui (GM, Corporate Strategy), and Genki Miura (Assistant Manager, International Sales and Marketing). They met with officials from the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), including CEO Rakesh Kumar Singh, ACEO Nagendra Pratap Singh, and OSD Shailendra Bhatia, before touring the circuit to assess its readiness for hosting a Super Formula round.
“The visit is a major step toward adding India to the Super Formula calendar. If the delegation finds the circuit suitable, we’ll move ahead with detailed planning and formalities for hosting the championship” – YEIDA CEO Rakesh Kumar Singh
What is Super Formula?
Founded in 1973, Super Formula is Japan’s top-tier open-wheel series and is often regarded as the second-fastest racing championship in the world after Formula 1. The series features advanced Dallara-built chassis powered by Honda and Toyota engines and races at iconic Japanese circuits such as Suzuka, Fuji Speedway, and Twin Ring Motegi.
If confirmed, this event would mark the return of world-class motorsport to India, years after the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix (2011–2013), FIA Formula E Hyderabad E-Prix 2023 and MotoGP Bharat 2023. Both faced setbacks due to logistical and financial hurdles, but Super Formula’s potential entry signals renewed international interest in Indian motorsport.
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.
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