How Indian-American racer Yuven Sundaramoorthy broke stereotypes to make IndyCar history?

Indian-American racer Yuven Sundaramoorthy is making waves in the US motorsports scene, where he recently became the first Indian-origin racing driver to secure a podium finish at the Indy NXT series. The 21-year-old is currently a full-time driver for Abel Motorsports and is aiming to climb up to the next step, the IndyCar Series.

In an exclusive conversation with Firstpost, Yuven shared insights into his journey, the challenges of being an Indian-origin driver in the United States, and his aspirations in the world of racing. Yuven shared his desire to feature in Formula One in the future and also picked his favourite F1 racer and team.

Below are the excerpts from the interview…

FP: Can you tell us about your family’s journey to the US and was there any connection to motorsports? How supportive they have been in your career?

Yuven: My family has definitely been the most supportive part of my entire racing career. Obviously, I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without them, and it’s a blessing for sure. We moved around a lot initially, but I was born here in the US. My parents, however, came from India, specifically South India.

We never knew about racing, it was never something that was on our minds. It was something we serendipitously discovered while we were living in China. From there, I started racing simply because I loved the sport, and my passion for it grew over time. Even during the tough times, my parents, both of them, were always there, as well as the rest of my family. That was definitely the best part because having their support made it much easier to keep pushing for my dreams.

FP: Many Indian-American families prioritise more conventional career paths. What made you choose racing instead?

Yuven: It just happened naturally. I’m a very outdoorsy, athletic person, I like to be active. Growing up, I played all sorts of sports, but racing was what stuck. It was what I was most passionate about and what I felt I was best at, which helped. There were times when I considered pursuing soccer or lacrosse more seriously, but racing was always what I felt most confident in. I love the sport.

FP: What have been the biggest challenges in making it as an Indian-American driver in the US motorsport scene? Do you feel there are stereotypes or barriers for drivers of Indian origin?

Yuven: Yeah, definitely. A big part of it is confidence because there isn’t a lot of representation. It’s much easier to believe in yourself when you see other people from your background doing it. That was one of the initial challenges.

However, once I started, I was on that path. The bigger issue is that I don’t want other people to shy away from racing just because they don’t see others like them in the sport. It’s not necessarily about hard barriers; it’s more about the stereotypes that make people feel like they have to follow a certain path because of their background.

And that goes back to your question about support groups, right? It’s you, you also need that family to push you to do what you want to do, and not necessarily what you think you have to do based on the stereotypes, which is a big thing.

FP: Securing an Indy podium is a huge milestone. Can you take us through that moment and what it meant for you? How do you see your journey progressing?

Yuven: That moment was really special. When you asked earlier why I stuck with racing, this was one of the key reasons. That podium finish gave me the confidence to believe I could go further. It was my first win, and the first one is always significant for any driver. It was also on such a big stage, which made it even more meaningful. It really motivated me to keep pushing forward.

FP: Have you had any discussions with Indian sponsors or motorsport entities about potential support?

Yuven: Yeah, that’s one of the hardest parts about racing. Unfortunately, motorsport is expensive. In other sports, you just buy a cricket bat or a soccer ball and start playing, but in racing, you need significant financial backing, especially in the junior series. That’s just how the sport works, which is an unfortunate reality.

Finding funding and sponsorship has been one of the biggest challenges. Over the years, I’ve gotten better at it, it’s all about networking, being personable, and proving what you can do and having the ability to do that. So I think over time, I’ve definitely improved.

And it’s still always going to be the hardest part, right? And that’s where having contacts, and knowing people is the biggest thing and being able to have a support group, again, like you said, my parents have been so helpful on that sponsorship front the whole time. And that’s definitely one of the biggest things.

FP: Do you see yourself racing in India or playing a role in developing motorsports in the country?

Yuven: I really hope the racing scene in India picks up. I did do a race in India, a couple of races in India a couple of years ago in Madras. And it was incredible the amount of people that came out, everyone was super supportive. And I think it can be a much bigger thing. India’s had a couple of Formula One drivers in the past. But I hope it picks up because I think the country is always super passionate about their sports and their athletes and everything like that. So I think if it picks up, it would be really, really cool. Hopefully, that comes sooner than later.

FP: Do you have aspirations to move to Europe and pursue F1, or is IndyCar your long-term goal? Which F1 team is your favorite?

Yuven: Of course, Formula One is always there, it’s every kid’s dream. But at this point, if the opportunity comes, I’d take it. That said, it’s much more difficult to get into F1. It’s a lot more expensive, and you typically have to invest heavily in the international racing ladder from an early stage. However, anything can happen. If I keep performing well in IndyCar, an opportunity might arise.

But honestly, I’m a big, very, very big fan of the IndyCar ladder and I really like what they’ve done with the series. And I really think it’s a good series and, and has a lot of opportunity to expand. And I’m really hoping for that in the future.

At this point, I’d say any (F1) team that wants me. I’ve been a big Nico Rosberg fan, so Mercedes would be pretty cool. But at this point, anyone who would take.

FP: What advice would you give to young Indian kids dreaming of a career in racing?

Yuven: My advice would be to follow your dreams and not let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. The most important thing is to believe in yourself. If you truly think you can make it, then you have to commit fully and work hard. And the more work you put in the more results you’ll get out. And that’s the most important.