Tanasha Radella: A Need for Speed, A Dream for F1

At nine years old, Tanasha Radella is already learning something that many athletes spend years discovering: speed is only the beginning. Behind the wheel of a kart, she has found a sport that demands instinct, discipline and an almost obsessive attention to the smallest details. A fraction of a second matters. A corner can be taken differently. A braking point can be moved. A good lap can always become a better one. That appetite for improvement has already taken Tanasha to the podium in Malaysia and, more recently, into the history books as the first female driver to win an IAME Series Sri Lanka round. Yet she speaks about racing with an unaffected simplicity. She loves the speed. She loves the competition. She wants to go faster. And perhaps most importantly, she wants other girls to see themselves behind the wheel too.

1. Tanasha, could you tell me a little about how you first got into karting? Do you remember what first made you interested in it?

I have always loved sports and anything exciting and competitive. The first time I tried karting, I just loved it! I loved the speed and the feeling of driving the kart by myself. I kept wanting to do more and more laps and every time I went out, I wanted to get a little faster. That’s really how it started, and then karting became something I really loved doing.

2. When did you realize that karting was something you really wanted to take seriously and compete in?

I think it was when I started actually racing against other drivers. I realized that karting isn’t just about going fast. You have to practice a lot, listen to your coach and mechanic, stay calm and keep learning. After every race, I would think about what I could have done better and how I could get faster next time. That’s when I knew I didn’t just want to do karting for fun. I really wanted to race and see how far I could go.

3. You recently made history by becoming the first female driver to win an IAME Series Sri Lanka round. How did you feel when you found out?

I was really, really happy! I had won qualifying, the heats, super heat and then the final, so it was already a very special day for me. Then when I found out that I was the first female driver to win an IAME Sri Lanka round, I felt really proud. I was also very thankful to my family, my team and everyone who has helped me. I hope when other girls see me racing and winning, they will think, “I can do that too!”

4. What is it that you enjoy most when you’re out on the track?

I definitely love the speed! But I also really like trying to get the perfect lap. When I’m driving, I’m thinking about where I should brake, how I should take the corner and how I can get a better exit. I also love racing really close with the other drivers. It’s exciting because you have to keep thinking all the time. And when I do a really good lap, I always want to go out and try to make the next one even better!

5. You are already racing against some very strong drivers. What have those races taught you?

The biggest thing I’ve learned is never to give up. Sometimes you can have a bad lap or something can go wrong in a race, but you still have to keep trying. When I race against really fast drivers, it makes me want to push myself even harder. I also learn by watching them and racing with them. In karting, even one tiny mistake can make a big difference, so I’m always trying to learn and improve. I’ve also learned that you should race fairly and respect the other drivers.

6. You have also raced in Malaysia and achieved a podium there. What was that experience like?

Malaysia was really exciting because there were bigger grids and so many fast international drivers. The racing was very close, so it was definitely harder, but I really enjoyed it. Getting on the podium there was very special for me because we had worked really hard for it. It made me feel more confident because I knew I could compete with strong international drivers too. I learned so much from racing in Malaysia, and now I want to do even more international races.

7. You are one of the few girls competing in a sport where most of the drivers are boys. Does that ever cross your mind when you are racing?

I don’t really think about being a girl when I’m racing. Once I put my helmet on, I’m just a racing driver. Most of the drivers I race against are boys, but I don’t think, “They’re boys, so I can’t beat them.” I just think about how I’m going to race them! But I am very proud to be a girl in karting. I want other girls to see that we can be fast, we can race against the boys and we can win too.

8. You’re only nine, but you have already achieved a great deal. What do you want to achieve next?

I want to keep getting faster, learning more and winning more races. I also want to do really well internationally, especially racing in Malaysia and around Asia. I want to race against the best drivers because I think that’s how I’ll keep getting better. And my biggest dream is to represent Sri Lanka and race in Formula 1 one day. I know I’m only nine and I have a very long way to go, but I’m going to keep working hard and see how far I can get!

A WORD FROM TANASHA’S PARENTS

1. Could you take me back to the beginning and tell me when you first noticed Tanasha’s interest in karting? At what point did you realize that this was becoming more than simply a hobby for her?

From the beginning, Tanasha was drawn to the kart and wanted to understand how to drive better. What stood out was not only her excitement about speed, but her willingness to practice, listen carefully and come back after a difficult session determined to improve. Once she began asking focused questions about racing lines, braking and lap times, we knew this had become much more than a hobby for her.

2. Tanasha is still only nine, yet she is already competing internationally and carrying some very significant achievements. How do you, as parents, balance supporting her ambitions with making sure she continues to enjoy the experience and simply have the childhood she deserves?

Our priority is that Tanasha remains happy, healthy and grounded. Karting is an important part of her life, but it does not replace school, family time, friendships, music or sport. We support her ambition with the right coaching and opportunities, while making sure she understands that learning, effort and enjoying the journey matter more than pressure or results. At the end of every race weekend, she is still our daughter first and a racer second.

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For Tanasha, the road ahead is still a long one. There will be faster circuits, tougher grids, difficult races and plenty of laps that will not go according to plan. But for now, there is a nine-year-old who keeps looking for another fraction of a second, another corner to perfect and another reason to put on the helmet. And when she does, she has already decided how she wants to see herself.