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.

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.

The Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine made its second stop of the season at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps. Coming into the weekend with confidence, Akshay Bohra was feeling at home on a circuit that suits his driving style. There were plenty of positives from this weekend. Akshay’s pace consistently matched the front-runners, and he secured a solid P6 finish in Race 1. He was on course for another strong result in Race 2, but unfortunately found himself on the wrong end of several on-track battles, finishing P15.

Saturday – Solid Points and Competitive Pace

Saturday got off to an unexpected start, with Qualifying for Race 1 cancelled due to an incident in Group A. The Akcel GP car of Shaer Al Maosherji went off track and into the gravel before hitting the side barrier. While the driver was unharmed, the barrier required extensive repairs, and the session was abandoned.

As per regulations, the grid was set using times from Collective Test 1. That put Freddie Slater on pole and Akshay Bohra in P7.

In the race, Slater led from the front to take the win and fastest lap, but there were plenty of midfield battles. Bohra had a strong start, moving up to P6 by mid-lap 1. He challenged Enzo Peugeot (RPM) for P5, overtaking him briefly before being re-passed by Hiyu Yamakoshi, who had also cleared Peugeot just behind Bohra.

Bohra remained glued to the rear of the top five as a three-car fight developed for P4. On the final laps, he attempted a late move into the Bus Stop chicane for P5 but braked slightly too late, ran deep, and missed the apex. That allowed Rashed Al Dhaheri to slip past, and Akshay crossed the line in P7—still a respectable points finish on a chaotic day.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Akshay Bohra (@akshay_bohra_31)

Sunday – Strong Qualifying, Tough Race

Sunday began with promise as Bohra qualified P3 in his group, giving him a net P6 starting position for Race 2.

However, the race start was chaotic. A collision at Turn 1 eliminated Freddie Slater, Doriane Pin (both Prema Racing), and Michael Belov (CL Motorsport), while Bohra lost three positions by the end of Lap 1 and dropped to P9.

Under the safety car restart, Bohra attempted a move on Giovanni Maschio at Turn 10 but locked up and ran wide at Turn 11, losing more ground and falling to P13. In the penultimate lap, a second lock-up into the final corner dropped him further back, and he finished the race in P15.

Plenty of Positives for Akshay Bohra to Take into Zandvoort

The final result may not reflect it, but Akshay Bohra continues to show front-running pace this season. If he can string together a clean weekend, a podium finish is well within reach. His confidence is building, and his performance at Spa proves he’s a contender once it all clicks.

Up Next

The FRECA paddock heads to Zandvoort this weekend for Round 3 of the championship, taking place from 6th to 8th June. You can watch all the action live on the official YouTube channel of the championship.

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.

Akshay Bohra kicked off his 2025 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) with a points finish in Race 1. He was on course for another solid result in Race 2 before getting taken out by another car, dropping him to the back of the field.

Step up from Formula 4 for Akshay Bohra

Akshay, who was racing in Formula 4 cars last year, made a step up to the Formula 3 (Regional) cars in 2025. To prepare for this transition, he contested the Formula Regional Middle East Championship (FRMEC) earlier in the year, where he claimed his first victory of the season with a race win in Abu Dhabi.

READ MORE: Akshay Bohra gets his first WIN of the year: FRMEC 2025

Following a short break after the Middle East campaign, Akshay returned to Europe to focus on testing and preparations for the highly competitive FRECA season.

Racing with R-ace GP

For 2025, Akshay is racing with French outfit R-ace GP—one of the most successful teams in the series’ history. With six driver titles, eight team championships, and over 100 victories to their name, R-ace GP has built a legacy of excellence. The team has also played a crucial role in the careers of several current F1 drivers, including Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, Oscar Piastri, and Isack Hadjar.

Encouraging Start to The Season

The 2025 Formula Regional Eruopean Championship by Alpine kicked off at the Misano World Circuit, hosting the opening round of a ten-event calendar. Saturday kicked off the official sessions with Qualifying 1 where Freddie Slater took pole position for Race 1 scheduled for later in the day. Akshay Bohra qualified in 14th place and was looking forward to the race ahead.

In a frantic start to the race, Slater spun out from the lead, triggering an early safety car. Meanwhile, Akshay wasted no time, climbing up to P10 before the field was neutralised. After the restart, the Indian driver showed impressive race pace and composure, gaining another position to finish 9th, scoring points on debut and making up five places from his starting position.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Akshay Bohra (@akshay_bohra_31)

Strong Sunday Effort Cut Short by Mid-Race Collision

Sunday was shaping to be better, with the Indian driver qualifying inside the top 10 in 9th and if yesterday’s race was anything to go by, he was set for some good points haul in Race 2 of the weekend.

At the start, Bohra dropped a position to go behind the Thai Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi. After an intense wheel to wheel battle between the two which lasted multiple laps, Bohra overtook him to take 9th place and set his sights on the Nikita Bedrin in P8. Dion Gowda who was running in 7th place was overtaken by Bedrin and then by Bohra helping Bohra move upto P8.

With a little over 15 minutes left on the clock, Dion Gowda lost control of his car at Turn 10 and took out Rashid Al Dhaheri in 7th and Akshay Bohra in 8th. The contact forced Gowda to retire meanwhile Dhaheri and Bohra dropped to the back of the grid. With over 15 minutes still on the clock, Akshay launched a spirited recovery drive and climbed back up to 16th by the chequered flag. A mid-race safety car, however, halted his momentum, without it, a stronger finish was certainly within reach.

Up Next

The championship heads to Spa in 2 weeks time for Round 2 of the championship. While the weekend didn’t deliver the results Akshay was hoping for, there were plenty of positives to take away. With strong pace and a points finish on debut, he’ll be looking to build momentum heading into Belgium.

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.