Coimbatore 10-year-old to represent India at 2026 Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship

Ten-year-old Guru Tarun SK of Coimbatore has been selected by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India to represent India in the Under-12 category of the Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship 2026 in Thailand, and on October 24, 2026 he spoke by phone from Thailand a few hours before the race.

Tarun began go-karting as a pastime at Kartkrew Motorsports and CoASTT Kartmania in Karumathampatti, and his father V Santhosh Kumar — a former rally racer — inspired him to pursue the sport and now accompanies him to events. It has been only six months since Tarun took up go-karting, but his father says he is showing promise. "The FMSCI selected him to represent India after seeing his performance in IAME Championship held earlier this year," says Santhosh.

Santhosh said Tarun has been training intensively, with sessions in Chennai and Bengaluru on what his father described as the best tracks available to them. Tarun trains from 6am every day and spends around a week every month on the track, according to his father.

Participating in international events requires Tarun to miss school for several days, and Santhosh said SSVM School of Excellence, where Tarun studies, has been particularly supportive of his racing commitments.

Santhosh described go-karting as an expensive sport, noting that safety gear alone can cost up to several lakhs, and recalled that Tarun has suffered several injuries, including a broken arm. "But it’s all part of the experience," Santhosh says, adding that his family has seen him recover from several such injuries during his racing days.

Tarun has set his sights on the Asia Championship, which is soon set to take place across Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, and he said his ultimate aim is to become an F1 racer. "Go-karting is the base for that," says Tarun, adding that he aspires to become like British Formula One racing driver Lewis Hamilton; when asked his favourite part about racing he replied, "Speed."

Tarun is due to compete in the Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship 2026 in Thailand as part of the Under-12 category entry for India.