Brothers taking up the same sport is not something new, but people are quick to sit up and take note when both of them also start excelling in it. At a tender age, budding racers Arjun and Khush Maini have already proved that they could make it big in the motorsports arena.
The elder sibling, Arjun, who was introduced to karting when he was just five by his father Gautam, is keen on reaching great heights. “I raced in the junior category this season and won the first race in Hyderabad. But the remaining races were tough. We had a good fight and I’m satisfied with the finish,” said the 12-year-old. In the recently concluded JK Tyre National Karting championship, Arjun finished second in the championship table with 311 points.
In 2007, Arjun who was then nine, won five races in the Under-12 National Minimax championship and went on to become champion. “I owe a lot to Red Rooster Racing. They have been very supportive with Leelakrishnan helping me to make my kart perfect,” said the Indus International School student.
Not far behind is his younger brother, Kush who is making a mark of his own. The fifth grader bagged the third slot in the National Micromax category this season. “My father and the team helped me. It was a good season and I put up a good fight to earn a place on the podium,” said Kush.
After his stupendous show, Kush was adjudged the Akbar Ebrahim’s ‘Young Star of the Year.’
Like other kids of their age, the duo are also hooked to racing games. “We do play a lot of games on Xbox and also go to gaming centres. It helps us to understand the race to some extent, but when it comes to the real thing, it is quite different,” said Arjun. The brothers are great fans of Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna. “I want to be part of Formula One. It is a dream of every racer and the place to be. I will work hard and improve my driving skills,” said Arjun.
Their father Gautam has already chalked out plans for the siblings. “Next year, I’m planning to send them to Europe for training. They are young and have already acquired the required skills,” he explained.
Tipped as a quick learner, Arjun made history by winning the Micromax/ Formula Category in Malaysia two years ago. He was also the first Indian to win the Asian race in the Under-13 category.