The historical past of motorsports has proven that it’s by no means simple for a driver from India. Indian drivers have at all times discovered it arduous to determine themselves within the high-adrenaline sport because of many elements, from lack of sponsors to barely any curiosity from followers within the nation. Yuven Sundaramoorthy is the most recent within the line, and the Indian-origin American racing driver had a sensational 2024 Indy NXT season.
Yuven Sundaramoorthy had a great 2024 Indy NXT season.(Instagram)
Driving full-time for Abel Motorsports, he turned the primary Indian-origin racing driver to seize a podium end on the Indy NXT collection final season. Through the 2024 season, the 21-year-old had two podium finishes, coming third at Gateway Motorsports Park and second on the Music Metropolis Grand Prix. Sundaramoorthy had a sluggish begin, and it was solely within the second half of the season that he raised his degree and started to problem rivals greater up within the pack.
Talking to Hindustan Occasions in an unique interview, he seemed again at his 2024 season and revealed that he was ‘really happy with how’ it turned out. “I was really happy with how the season turned out. It was definitely a slower start than I wanted, but I really think I picked it up in the second half of the year with a number of podiums. I was really happy with my first year in a car that big. Definitely think the car came to me pretty well through the second-half of the year, I am really excited with how it turned out”, he stated.
He ended his season with a second-place podium end, which noticed him end eighth within the driver standings. In the meantime, his teammate Jacob Abel got here second behind Andretti International’s Louis Foster. Attributable to his gritty turnaround within the second half, Sundamoorthy was anticipated to be one of many underdogs difficult for the championship title within the 2025 season, which begins on March 2.
Nonetheless, because of budgetary points, he received’t be collaborating in any respect this season. Explaining his scenario, he stated, “Yes, I was definitely looking good for this championship, but unfortunately, that is racing. It is a super expensive sport, you can’t get everything together sometimes, but that is not going to stop me from keep pushing and doing what I do.”
Previously, he has revealed that he plans to make a comeback in 2026, and is at present working as a take a look at engineer for Tesla, the place his work pertains round in-vehicle validation of controls concerning traction, ABS and stability management. He additionally works within the improvement division of recent options, throughout all floor varieties and tire variants. He revealed that his comeback is ‘ideally’ anticipated to be together with his former staff however remains to be unsure about it.
“I plan to make a comeback, hopefully, sooner than later. Ideally, it will be with Abel Motorsports, but again, it is the racing industry, and nothing is for certain. My greatest hope is that it will be back with Abel Motorsports,” he stated.
Racing in an Indy NXT automotive is an costly funding. It takes roughly 1 million {dollars} to run a aggressive season, and that’s the reason groups have greater than two drivers. “Racing is a super expensive sport, no matter what. I think the price that it takes to go to F1 is even more than it takes to get to an Indy car. Once you finally get there, you can start getting a return on your investment. But just getting there is super expensive, especially if you are having trouble looking for sponsors or anything like that. That’s why it is super important to network, super important to know people that can help you on your way in, and people that can help you find sponsors,” stated Sundaramoorthy.
Born in Wisconsin, Sundaramoorthy has additionally been to India and even received a race. “I have been to India and I even won a race in Chennai at the Madras Motor Sports Club,” he revealed.
Previously, Sundaramoorthy has additionally participated on the US F2000 Nationwide Championship, MRF Problem collection, Formulation F and F1600 Championship Collection. When requested if he had Formulation One ambitions, he had a diplomatic reply, contemplating that he needs to make a comeback on the Indy NXT collection as quickly as attainable.
“Formula One is always the goal for any young driver, but to be honest, I am actually more excited to race in an Indy car. F1 is the pinnacle but Indy car is what I have gotten used to and what I have gotten to know. I really like how everything is set up. I really like that culture and everything like that in Indy car and you know obviously if a F1 opportunity arises I am not going to miss it,” he stated.
Identical to each racing driver, Sundaramoorthy started his motorsport schooling with go-karting. He said that he went to a race when he was solely 10 or nine-years-old and fell for the game. He started with go-karts and bought addicted.
Lastly in a message to aspiring Indian motorsport drivers and followers, he stated, “It is important to keep pushing when you are in adversity like I am in right now. If you end up giving up, that is going to be the end of it. If you give up, its going to be the end of it. But if you continue, there is a chance that you will achieve your goals.”