India is far from becoming a global motorsport giant, but the current situation isn’t stopping a handful of individuals from pursuing motorsport as a career

The year is 2025, heading into 2026, and even today, fast cars and motorcycles are seen as commodities or nuisances in India. The majority of India’s population, including the government, cannot look past cricket; as a result, despite India being a gold mine of motorsport talent, the nation is far from becoming a global name in motorsport.

However, a handful of people dare to dream of making a career in motorsport despite little fame and money, and Aishwarya Pissay is one of those who keep India’s flag high in various categories of motorcycle racing. This year, the 30-year-old won the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal 2025, which is the fourth round of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).

First Asian to do the impossible

Battling stereotypes, the Bengaluru-based racer became the first Asian and Indian woman to win her class, i.e., the Rally2 – women’s category. Although racing as a privateer, putting money into it, she received support from TVS Racing and a few committed private partners who are aware of her immense talent.

(Credit- The Stateman)

After the victory, Pissay had stated, “This win means the world to me. Becoming the first woman from Asia and India to win at this level is not just a personal milestone; it's a message to every young girl who dreams beyond limits. I’m grateful to TVS Racing and all my partners who made this moment possible,” as quoted by the Bridge.

Pissay’s takeoff

(Credit- GQ)

Pissay has been riding since childhood, but she decided to get into motorcycle racing after competing in MTV's Chase the Monsoon, a competition in which she travelled on a motorcycle from the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to Cherapunji in Meghalaya in 24 days. A determined Pissay graduated from Apex Racing School in 2016, followed by a course from the California Superbike School, which is one of the finest racing schools in India. These courses helped Pissay hone her skills, and she eventually became a full-time professional motorcycle racer.

Pissay’s major achievements

(Credit- Autocar)

Aishwarya Pissay has no dearth of achievements in motorcycle racing. She is the first Indian woman to win the Indian National Rally Championship six times in a row. Her passion for motorcycle racing also took her to circuit racing, where she won the Honda One Make Championship. As she grew professionally, she went international, participating in the Baja Aragon World Rally in Spain, the Raid De Himalaya, and more.

As the year comes to an end, we hope youngsters will draw inspiration from Aishwarya Pissay and venture into motorsports so that, one day, India can truly compete at the pinnacle of motorsport, i.e., F1, MotoGP, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Dakar Rally.