Enaam Ahmed is a phenomenal British-Pakistani Formula 3 Champion driver. Ahmed was only 14 when he started breaking records. He became the World and European Karting champion and won five championships in that same year. He also became the youngest ever British F3 champion, aged 17. Enaam races under the Pakistani flag and is one of the very few drivers of Asian heritage in the professional motorsport. Having grown up competing in Europe, Enaam is excited to start his career in America with the aim of winning the world-famous Indianapolis 500, which is the largest single-day sporting event in the world. The Indy Pro 2000 recently wrapped up in the USA where he won third place on the podium. Enaam in an exclusive conversation with MAG, sheds light on his career highs and on what he’s aiming in life as a professional racer. Read on to find out more…

In an era where our youth is currently more inclined towards cricket and football, what inspired you to opt for motor sports?

Firstly, because I really enjoyed it. It's my favourite thing to do, to drive a racing car and in life, I always believed, you have to do what you enjoy and you'll do it to the best of your ability.

Do you think being a Formula 3 racer is dangerous keeping in mind the life risks involved?

Yes. I mean, there's always danger in racing no matter which category you're doing, but I think the risk is what makes it fun.

What are your common practices or techniques to improve your reflexes as a racing driver?

We do a lot of brain training getting our bodies really tired, cardiovascular wise and then we perform tasks to see how our reactions deteriorate when the pressure is on and when the body is tired. So, the more we do that, the more we improve that and the better, our reactions are when we’re tired during the race.

What's the best piece of advice that you've gained from your coaches?

The best piece of advice I have ever received was that winners never quit and quitters never win.

Tell us your current personal best performances in various events.

My personal favourite performances in events would be the Putting it on pole position in the program free which is one of the biggest races in the world, winning the British Formula 3 Championship with the most races ever won in the history and winning the go-karting world championship.

Do you think being a public figure in any way helps in creating awareness for the betterment of the society?

I think it is my duty to hold myself to a high standard to set an example for the youth as an athlete. For me, I have improved a lot as a person because it taught me discipline. Also, I'm representing Pakistan. So, it is my duty to represent the country to the best.

Which strengths do you believe you have that make you a great athlete?

My various strengths I think are my will to win, my determination and my endless desire burning ambition to win at all costs. Even if it costs my life.

What do you believe is the greatest challenge most athletes are facing today?

In Pakistan the biggest challenge, is the fact to be able to give talented athletes a chance to show their talent. Also a challenge that I faced in racing is that it involves a lot of money and sponsorship. That's why I've always had to perform to the best of my ability to maintain those relationships with the sponsors.

Describe your worst sports performance till date. What did you learn from that experience?

I've had a quite a few failures. There's a lot of times we don't succeed, but the biggest thing I learned is how to control my mind with emotions because being Pakistani, we tend to be very emotional. So, through these hard times, I've learned how to control my mind and to keep it cool under any situation.

Describe some of the major highlights of your career.

Some major highlights of my career will be becoming the European and World Go-Karting Champion at 14, the British Formula 3 Champion when I was 17 and winning the team's championship this year in Indy Pro 2000 in America.

What do you see yourself accomplishing in five to 10 years?

My goal is to get to Formula 1 and to become a world champion for Pakistan.

Are there any upcoming championships or events that you’re looking forward to?

God willing. Next year, I hope to be stepping up to Indy lights, which is the second tier just below IndyCar. It's basically the Formula 2 of America and the United States, that means I'll be one step below the big league, which is IndyCar. So, that's what I'm looking to be next year. •