Star driver

Twelve-year-old Jehan Daruvala drove into the record books when he became the first Indian to win a junior/senior championship title outside India. At the All Stars Karting Championship at the Speedway Plus International Circuit outside Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Daruvala battled brake and engine problems to surge ahead of his competitors and claim the crown in the Junior Yamaha category in September 2011. With this title, the young driver also obtained the opportunity to represent the South East Asian region in the last round of the Yamaha SL Cup in Japan. Daruvala represented team Rayo Racing and wore the Indian flag on his driving suit.

"To win a championship in his first year as a junior (12-15 years) driver, where the karts are much faster, is a fantastic achievement for a 12-year-old,” says former national champion Rayo­mand Banajee whose team Rayo Racing had one more driver adding to the tally of trophies. "Rayo Racing’s senior (over 15 years) driver Ameya Bafna, who is 16, made his first appearance in the Sonic category. Despite an unfortunate first corner incident, he bagged the trophy for fourth place overall,” Banajee commends. "This year has been tough for me as it is my first in the junior category… We were consistently quick at all the venues and that is what paid off,” Daruvala remarked.

Jehan Daruvala (below); (alongside) on track with a junior championship title in Malaysia

Now 13, Daruvala also obtained the chance to represent India in the ROK World Finals in Italy. "He has also been selected by the FMSCI (The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India) to represent India at the World Under-18 championships. He did exceedingly well in Essay, France. He qualified ninth out of 42 drivers and finished 16th. His lap times were in the top five drivers,” Banajee notes.