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The fast and the curious: Meet Indian-origin racer Yuven Sundaramoorthy
He’s 21, loves speed but practises mindfulness. Indian-origin racer Yuven Sundaramoorthy is changing what motorsports can do
In American open-wheel car racing, it doesn’t get bigger than the IndyCar Series. And within IndyCar, perhaps no racer is as keenly watched on the other side of the world as Yuven Sundaramoorthy. The 21-year-old won IndyCar’s Road to Indy Program in 2022, becoming the first racer of Indian descent to do so. This year, he competes in the 2024 Firestone Indy NXT Series, which runs until September. It’s closer to the legendary Indy 500, the holy grail of racing, than any Brown participant has ever been.
Indians have made their mark in sports as diverse as ice hockey, baseball and fencing. They haven’t yet made their presence felt in competitive motorsports. Wisconsin-born Sundaramoorthy says he was drawn to it as a child. When his family briefly lived in China, he watched the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix and recalls being “immediately hooked”. He made good on that obsession when he returned to the US, taking go-karting lessons to hone his driving skills.
“I ventured into competitive open-wheel racing because it felt like the next exciting step,” says Sundaramoorthy. Exciting, yes. Challenging, also yes. Open-wheel vehicles are lighter than regular racecars, allowing them to whizz past at faster speeds, sometimes at 360 kilometres per hour. Sundaramoorthy says he was captivated by the “blend of speed, precision, and high-level competition.” By age 14, he was already the youngest racer to win the prestigious Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Now, 21, he’s just about figuring out the grown-up aspects of the sport. “I’ve just graduated so thankfully, there’s one less thing to worry about. But sometimes it feels like I’m running in different directions at once,” he says. “Thankfully, I have a supportive family who’s got my back. They understand my passion for racing and help me manage my time.”
Mind games
His own responsibilities include not just driving fast but staying the course. “You have to stay fit, eat right, and stay mentally sharp.” Before every big race, he attempts to “get in the zone” by analysing the track, fine-tuning the car setup, strategising for the race ahead, and focussing on staying physically fit. “Mental preparation is crucial. I spend time visualising the race, practising mindfulness, and honing my focus. It’s about finding that perfect balance between being relaxed and laser focused when I hit the track.”
Sundaramoorthy is also aware of what it means to start off in a field where there’s almost no Indian participation. Every win is seen as one for the community. Every loss is collectively amplified. Every misstep weighs that much more heavily. “At first, my Indian heritage didn’t have much of a role to play, but it’s become a huge motivating factor for me to keep pushing harder after seeing all the messages from young Indians and south Asians who want to pursue motorsports,” he says. “It’s truly empowering to break stereotypes and inspire others like me to pursue their dreams.”
It will be a while before Indians in India tune in en masse to watch an open-wheel race. Those who are already fans say that following a race is a real adrenaline rush. The 2019 Netflix documentary F1: Drive to Survive has drawn more fans to the sport. Open-wheel racing games such as the Formula 1 and IndyCar series offer enthusiasts a more interactive experience than young Sundaramoorthy had all those years ago in China.
He’s helping promote it in India too. He made the most of his off-season time in 2019-2020 by participating in India’s MRF Challenge Series, where he won several medals in the F2000 class. “We definitely need more Indians out there on the track, representing us in motorsports,” he says. “Teaming up with cool brands and influencers can make racing hip, accessible, and impossible to ignore.”
Rear view
Meanwhile, the sport itself is moving in the right direction. Sundaramoorthy lauds the fact that new tech has made cars faster, but also safer and more reliable . Races today stress the use of greener fuels that have less-damaging impacts on the environment. Electric and hybrid race engines are being developed and improved upon. Efforts to offset carbon footprints and promote eco-friendly initiatives are gaining momentum within the racing community. “It’s encouraging to see a collective commitment to minimising the environmental impact of racing while maintaining the excitement and competitiveness of the sport.”
As he gears up for Indy NXT 2024 with the support of Alexander Rossi (IndyCar driver, Indy500 winner and former Formula 1 driver), Pieter Rossi (legendary motorsports manager) and his racing team Abel Motorsports, Sundaramoorthy says he’s looking forward to smashing his own records. “The excitement is through the roof, and I’m itching to get back on the track, push the limits, and go full throttle for more victories.”
