Shahan Ali Mohsin is an Indian racing driver from India, an Asia Max Karting Champion and two-time JK Tyre National Racing Championship in the Micro Max category. Shahan was attracted to speed at a very young age – watching Formula 1 on television and collecting pictures of cars and engines ever since he was only four years old. When seven-years old, he drove a recreational go-kart in Hyderabad and was then encouraged to take up competitive motorsport. Shahan made his competitive racing debut in 2013 in the JK Tyre National Rotax Karting Championship. Being only 8 years old, he ended up competing with more experienced drivers. Under the able guidance of former F3 driver Akbar Ebrahim, Shahan learnt quickly and despite being in his maiden season, finished on the podium three times out of the seven races he participated in.
2014
Having learned the preliminary ropes of karting, Mohsin was all set to challenge for the title only in his second year of karting – continuing to drive under the colours of Ebrahim's Meco Racing team. He also expanded his campaign to include the Asian Karting Championship as well – driving for Stratos Motorsport run by James Russel with Finnish Mikko Nassi, a former multiple Asian Karting Champion himself, as his driver coach. Back home in the Rotax Max Challenge Indian National Championship, Shahan led the standings early on, but some ill-timed incidents and disqualifications due to minor technical infringements meant that Mohsin missed out on the title and ended up 3rd in the overall Micro Max standings.
2015
2014 had proved to be a tough year for the 10-year-old, but Shahan gathered it all together to prepare for 2015, and had no choice but to win the title given his reputation. He managed to get the job done this time and dominated the championship, winning 6 races out of 10 and finishing second in another three. It was a great display of consistency and grit and he topped it off by posting his maiden win in the Asian Championship as well – at the final round held at the Shah Alam Karting Circuit in Malaysia, driving for front-running Asia Max outfit iS Racing run by Imran Shahrom. Imran is a former racing driver as well – winning the 2010 Super Taikyu Endurance title in Japan.
2016
The 2016 season was slated to be Shahan's glory year from the get-go. In his final Micro Max category, it was crucial for him to stamp his authority before moving onto the next level. The biggest challenge was the Asia Max Karting Championship, where several top drivers were in fray for the title but Shahan managed to assert his position and show his class throughout the season. Driving with Wai Leong's Top Kart Asia squad, his persistent spirit, consistency and determination brought him the desired result as he became the first-ever Indian to win the Asian Karting title in any category. Closer home, he successfully managed to defend his Micro Max National title in two championships, the JK Tyre Meco Motorsport Rotax Max Kart Open and JK Tyre National Rotax Max Karting Championship – clinching the Micro Max title 2nd year in a row. His outstanding performance also bestowed upon him the second consecutive 'Driver of the Year' title as well. Shahan also participated in his first European race, finishing credibly in the top-ten in Rotax Euro Finals held in Austria.
2017
2017 saw Shahan step up to the ultra-competitive Junior category in the national championship, and move up the ladder in European competition as well. Despite being in his rookie year and the youngest of the lot in a highly experienced and competitive grid - Shahan showed extremely well as expected. Luck wasn't exactly on his side throughout the season but Shahan still managed to extract consistently strong results and eventually finished third overall in the championship. Shahan participated in few European rounds as well on one-off basis, with his best result being a fourth place in the Rotax Grand Finals at Speedworld Circuit in Austria. The 13-year old competed in the Mini Max category which included no fewer than 26 drivers from all corners of the world, including USA, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia; with Shahan being the sole Indian representative.
Personal life
Mohsin's father, Shahroo Mohsin is a shoe exporter based in Agra. Shahan is a student of Delhi Public School, Agra. His favourite F1 driver and idol is Spaniard Fernando Alonso.
