From Pune to the Prancing Horse: Diana Pundole Shatters Ceilings as Ferrari's First Indian Woman Racer

History isn't just made; it's driven. The words "Ferrari" and "international racing" evoke a century-long legacy of speed, prestige, and, historically, an arena almost exclusively for men. This November, that narrative gets a powerful new chapter. 32-year-old Diana Pundole from Pune is firmly in the driver's seat, blazing a trail at over 250 km/h as she becomes the first Indian woman in history to race for Ferrari in a global championship.

This is a milestone moment for Indian motorsport, a breakthrough that transcends the track.

Diana is set to compete in the prestigious Ferrari Club Challenge Middle East, a key part of the "Passione Ferrari" program. This isn't just any race; it's an exclusive, factory-supported, single-make championship for Ferrari owners to test their skills. The series, running from November 2025 to April 2026, is a high-octane gauntlet held on the exact tarmac used by Formula One legends. Competing on world-class circuits in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia demands a level of precision and courage that few outside the professional racing world ever experience. The first round kicks off this weekend, November 8-9, at the legendary Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

The Car and the Challenge

At her command will be the formidable Ferrari 296 Challenge, a machine engineered for one purpose: dominance. This is the ninth model in the history of the Ferrari Challenge and marks a radical shift. It's the first-ever six-cylinder car in the series, but this is no ordinary V6. Following the lead of the 296 GT3, Ferrari's engineers removed the road car's hybrid system, shedding weight and boosting the twin-turbo engine to a staggering 700 cv (690 hp). With record-breaking power output and advanced aerodynamics, it's a thoroughbred racing car that is brutally fast and demands immense physical and mental focus to master.

Competing on this global stage is the culmination of a journey marked by relentless grit. It means withstanding intense G-forces, maintaining millimeter-perfect focus for laps on end, and proving oneself in a high-stakes, high-pressure environment. For Diana, this achievement is both a personal dream and a powerful public statement. "It's an incredible honour to represent India and race in a Ferrari on the world stage—it's a dream come true," she has shared. "Being the first Indian woman is a proud moment not just for me, but for women in Indian motorsport. I hope my journey inspires more women to follow their passion fearlessly."

A Trailblazing Journey

While her entry into the Ferrari Challenge is making headlines now, Diana's path to this moment has been built over years of hard-fought battles. Her serious racing career was ignited in 2018 by a nationwide talent hunt for the JK Tyre Women in Motorsport programme, an initiative designed to find and nurture female racers. Diana, who had no traditional racing background, stood out. She wasn't just happy to participate; she was there to win.

She quickly proved her mettle, securing consistent podium finishes in national racing championships. But the true breakthrough, the moment that silenced skeptics and announced her arrival, came in 2024. Diana made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a national racing title, clinching the MRF Saloon Cars Championship at the Madras International Circuit. This victory, secured against a field of the nation's top (and predominantly male) drivers, cemented her reputation as one of India's most formidable racing talents. This championship win wasn't just a personal triumph; it was a cultural one. In a sport where she had faced skepticism, she had now proven, unequivocally, that talent has no gender.

What makes Diana's story even more inspiring is her life off the track. As a 32-year-old and a mother of two, she shatters the one-dimensional stereotype of a professional racer, proving that passion and determination can override any preconceived notion.

Her journey is also a deeply poignant tribute to her late father, whom she credits with igniting her love for motorsport. Her father, Darius, was an avid Formula One fan, and many of her earliest memories are of watching races with him. It was a passion shared by her mother, Jasmine, herself an ace driver who taught Diana to drive. When her father passed away in 2017, it was a profound loss, but his passion for motorsport became her driving force. "My motivation comes from my late father's love for racing and my own desire to prove that women can excel in this sport," she has shared.

The support from sponsors like Aligned Automation and Ferrari New Delhi is significant, signaling a crucial shift where corporate India is recognizing and backing female champions in high-performance sports.

This weekend, as the V6 engine of her 296 Challenge roars to life on the grid at Yas Marina, Diana Pundole will be carrying more than just her own ambitions. She carries the legacy of her father, the pride of her nation, and the hopes of a new generation of young Indian girls who will watch her and, for the first time, see a path to the impossible.

Diana isn't just driving a Ferrari—she's driving a new era for Indian motorsport.