Queen Of The Race Track

Hailing from Meghalaya, Phoebe Nongrum is breaking the glass ceiling and setting an example for women all across the region.

Phoebe Nongrum is the first woman from the Northeast to make it to Formula LGB 4 team. She has been inducted into Ahura Racing, an executive car racing academy in India, owned and managed by three time national champion, Sarosh Hataria in Coimbatore. Her passion led her to the race tracks, and she dreams of conquering the international race circuit someday.

Why racing?

I have been inclined to racing from the time I was in school, back in Shillong. I learnt driving at an early age and became interested in motor racing. In 2007, I moved to Bangalore for further studies and my passion for the sport grew when I came across it in the city. By the time I shifted back to Shillong, there was an autocross— Maximum Attack Challenge 2, organised by Motorsport Association of Meghalaya (MSAM). The organisers were the same boys I used to race with in the streets when we were in school. They were my friends, so they asked me to participate on the dirt track race. That was my first autocross, and I took home the award for the ladies class.

My professional racing career started only after I was invited to participate in the Formula LGB motor racing event.

Tell us a little about your childhood