Shahan Ali Mohsin
Shahan Ali Mohsin (born 13 July 2004) is an Indian racing driver from India, an Asia Max Karting Champion and two-time JK Tyre National Racing Championship in the Micro Max category.[1][2][3][4][5]
Shahan Ali Mohsin | |
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![]() Shahan Ali Mohsin with his 2016 Asia Max Championship Trophy at Sepang Circuit | |
Nationality | Indian |
JK Tyre Rotax Max Karting Championship career | |
Debut season | 2013 |
Current team | Meco Racing |
Crew chief | Akbar Ebrahim |
Championships | 4 |
Best finish | 1st in 2016 |
Championship titles | |
2016 Asia Max Karting Championship
2016 JK Tyre Rotax Max Karting Championship 2015 JK Tyre Rotax Max Karting Championship | |
Awards | |
2015 Driver of the Year, JK Tyre Rotax Max Championship 2016 Driver of the Year, JK Tyre Rotax Max Championship | |
Rotax Max National Karting Championship career | |
Debut season | 2013 |
Current team | MSport |
Former teams | Meco Motorsport |
Championships | 2 |
Best finish | 1st in 2016 |
Shahan was attracted to speed at a very young age – watching Formula 1 on television and collecting pictures of cars and engines ever since he was only four years old. When seven-years old, he drove a recreational go-kart in Hyderabad and was then encouraged to take up competitive motor-sport.
Shahan made his competitive racing debut in 2013 in the JK Tyre National Rotax Karting Championship. Being only 8 years old (the lower limit of the Micro Max category with drivers aged 8–12 years), he ended up competing with more experienced drivers. Under the able guidance of former F3 driver Akbar Ebrahim, Shahan learnt quickly and despite being in his maiden season, finished on the podium three times out of the seven races he participated in.
2014
Having learned the preliminary ropes of karting, Mohsin was all set to challenge for the title only in his second year of karting – continuing to drive under the colours of Ebrahim's Meco Racing team. He also expanded his campaign to include the Asian Karting Championship as well – driving for Stratos Motorsport run by James Russel with Finnish Mikko Nassi, a former multiple Asian Karting Champion himself, as his driver coach. Back home in the Rotax Max Challenge Indian National Championship, Shahan led the standings early on, but some ill-timed incidents and disqualifications due to minor technical infringements meant that Mohsin missed out on the title and ended up 3rd in the overall Micro Max standings.
2015
2014 had proved to be a tough year for the 10-year-old, but Shahan gathered it all together to prepare for 2015, and had no choice but to win the title given his reputation. He managed to get the job done this time and dominated the championship, winning 6 races out of 10 (finals and pre-finals) and finishing second in another three.[6] It was a great display of consistency and grit and he topped it off by posting his maiden win in the Asian Championship as well – at the final round held at the Shah Alam Karting Circuit in Malaysia, driving for front-running Asia Max outfit iS Racing run by Imran Shahrom. Imran is a former racing driver as well – winning the 2010 Super Taikyu Endurance title in Japan.[7][8][9][10][11][12]
2016
The 2016 season was slated to be Shahan's glory year from the get-go. In his final Micro Max (8–12 years) category, it was crucial for him to stamp his authority before moving onto the next level. The biggest challenge was the Asia Max Karting Championship, where several top drivers were in fray for the title but Shahan managed to assert his position and show his class throughout the season. Driving with Wai Leong's Top Kart Asia squad, his persistent spirit, consistency and determination brought him the desired result as he became the first-ever Indian to win the Asian Karting title in any category.[13][14][15]
Closer home, he successfully managed to defend his Micro Max National title in two championships, the JK Tyre Meco Motorsport Rotax Max Kart Open and JK Tyre National Rotax Max Karting Championship – clinching the Micro Max title 2nd year in a row. His outstanding performance also bestowed upon him the second consecutive 'Driver of the Year' title as well.[16][17][18]
Shahan also participated in his first European race, finishing credibly in the top-ten in Rotax Euro Finals held in Austria.[19][20]
2017
2017 saw Shahan step up to the ultra-competitive Junior category in the national championship, and move up the ladder in European competition as well. Despite being in his rookie year and the youngest of the lot in a highly experienced and competitive grid - Shahan showed extremely well as expected. Luck wasn't exactly on his side throughout the season but Shahan still managed to extract consistently strong results and eventually finished third overall in the championship.[21][22]
Shahan participated in few European rounds as well on one-off basis, with his best result being a fourth place in the Rotax Grand Finals at Speedworld Circuit in Austria. The 13-year old competed in the Mini Max category which included no fewer than 26 drivers from all corners of the world, including USA, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia; with Shahan being the sole Indian representative.[23][24]
Personal life
Mohsin's father, Shahroo Mohsin is a shoe exporter based in Agra. Shahan is a student of Delhi Public School, Agra. His favourite F1 driver and idol is Spaniard Fernando Alonso.[8]
- Shahan in action at the Rotax Asia Max Challenge
- Shahan with his championship trophy after winning the JK Tyre Rotax Max Micro Max title.
- Shahan with his JK Tyre National Karting Championship Trophy.
See also
References
- "Shahan becomes first Indian to win Asian Karting Championship". The Times of India. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- "Shahan becomes first Indian to win Asian Karting Championship". Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- "Shahan Ali Mohsin becomes first Indian to win the Asian Karting Championship". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- "Donison, Manav, Shahan are 13th JK Tyre-FMSCI National Rotax Max Karting champions". jktyremotorsport.com. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- "Shahan All Mohsin creates history to become the first Indian to win the Asian Karting Championship". jktyremotorsport.com. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- "Shahan Ali Mohsin, Akash Gowda and Ricky Donison are 2015 JK Tyre-FMSCI National Rotax Max Karting Champions".
- "FMSCI – Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India". Fmsci.co.in. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
- "11-yr-old Agra boy is Asian karting champ". The Times of India.
- "2015 JK Tyre Rotax Max National Karting Championship: Ricky Donison Wins In The Senior Max Category In Hyderbad – Overdrive".
- Mainak Das (22 September 2015). "Shahan Ali Mohsin Wins 2015 Rotax Max Asia Challenge". Top Speed.
- "Petronas Syntium Team wins 2010 Super Taikyu title!". Paul Tan's Automotive News.
- "Team Petronas – Official Website of Petronas Syntium Team : STES10: Rd 7 – Twin Ring Motegi: Triumphant end despite tough Motegi outing".
- "2016 Asian Karting Championship: Shahan Ali Mohsin wins the Micro Max category – Firstpost". Firstpost. 2016-09-07. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- "12-Year-Old Shahan Ali Mohsin Becomes First Indian To Win Asian Karting Championship – NDTV CarAndBike". CarAndBike. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- "Shahan becomes first Indian to win the Asian Karting C'ship". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 2016-09-05. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- "2016 JK Tyre-MMS Rotax Kart Cup Open: Ricky Donison and Shahan Ali Mohsin dominate in their respective classes – Firstpost". Firstpost. 2016-05-24. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- Administrator. "Ricky Donison, Manav Sharma and Shahan Ali crowned Max Karting champions | Motorsport News". www.thesportscampus.com. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- "Donison, Sharma and Ali win National Karting Championship". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- "Shahan Ali Mohsin to represent India in Rotax Euro Finale in Austria". The Times of India. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- "2016 Rotax Euro Finale: Steep learning curve for Shahan". huntnews.in. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- "City lad Aaroh wins Senior Max national karting title". The Asian Age. 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
- "Yash Aradhaya And Arjun Rajiv Take Top Honours In FMSCI National Rotax Karting Championship". CarandBike. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
- "Fourth place overall for Shahan Ali Mohsin at Rotax Grand Festival Austria". Overdrive. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
- "Shahan Ali Mohsin Finishes Overall Fourth In Rotax Grand Festival In Austria". CarandBike. Retrieved 2020-02-12.