Shriya’s speed, her strategy, and her calm under pressure make her a standout on every lap.
How fast can a dream go? For Shriya Lohia, the answer is over 300 kilometres per hour. We live in a country where racing is still finding its place in mainstream sports and where young girls are steered towards more “acceptable” paths. Shriya didn’t go on the ordinary path; instead, she chose the sound of engines over expectations. Today, she holds the title of the first Indian female driver in Formula 4.
How Did It Start?
It all started with a simple go-karting session when she was just nine. When she felt the rush of speed, something inside her shifted. That short ride turned into a long-term ambition, and within no time, she stepped into the world less travelled. Shriya doesn’t hail from a racing family; she neither had a background in motorsports nor any role model to follow. But she had the drive to follow her passion. And most importantly, she had support from her parents, who saw that spark and backed her every step of the way.
When Her Actions Spoke Louder
Being brave means going where most people wouldn’t dare and becoming someone they never imagined becoming. Racing in India is still developing. For girls, it’s even rarer. Many people questioned Shriya’s choices. Some said racing wasn’t for girls, but she didn’t respond to them with words; instead decided to let her actions speak louder. Helmet on with engine roaring, she kept pushing herself and proved over and over that talent has no gender.
Soon, podiums became familiar places. Shriya claimed over 30 podium finishes, including the JK Tyre National Karting Championship title. In 2022, her achievements were nationally recognised when she received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, India’s highest civilian award for children.
In 2024, she took a bold leap forward by joining the Hyderabad Blackbirds, one of India’s premier Formula 4 teams. When she was only 15 years old, she made history by becoming the first Indian female driver in Formula 4 racing.
These milestones and victories didn’t come easily. The training was tough, the costs were high, and the pressure to perform was real. But Shriya took it all in stride– every skid, every fall, every hard-earned win built her into the racer she is today.
Steering Change
With each race, she not only challenges the drivers beside her but also the stereotypes. She’s racing against long-held beliefs, against doubts and showing that courage is a powerful engine. Shriya wishes to inspire girls of her generation to believe that they, too, can chase speed, power, and dreams that defy limits.
What’s Next?
What’s her next target? Formula 3. Then Formula 2. And maybe one day, the world’s biggest stage – Formula 1.
The road is tough. The competition is global. But we all know that the waves can’t defeat a boat unless it gives up. And those with courage never truly fail. Shriya will surely prove that if you decide something and work on it, you will excel in it eventually.
Shriya isn’t racing just for herself; she is, in fact, racing for every girl who’s ever been told “you can’t. And if her story proves anything, it’s this: dreams don’t have a speed limit.”
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