Fast and Glorious: Motorsports enthusiast Muskaan Jubbal is right on track

(December 5, 2023) As a nine-year-old, when Muskaan Jubbal went full throttle at a karting track, she felt the adrenaline rush like never before. Being behind the wheels thrilled her to bits and negotiating the curves on the track instilled a sense of control.

Thereafter, the need for speed refused to die down. On the contrary, it revved into top gear. So much so that she went on to clinch the ‘best woman driver’ title in the MRF MMSC Indian National Car Racing Championship held in Chennai recently.

Muskaan Jubbal

A hard-won victory

“It was definitely not easy, with this championship also being the first season I participated in. It was mixed grid and most of the racers were double my age and experience,” smiles Muskaan, as she connects with Global Indian.

Moreover, the 16-year-old says, it was raining during the race, which resulted in most of the racers spinning due to the wet track conditions. “I was extremely happy that I could prove myself, especially in those tough track conditions. And it is truly overwhelming when people come forward to congratulate you. It encourages you to keep at it and do better,” says the Grade 11 student of Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad.

The ‘next big thing’ in Indian motorsport  

Muskaan, whom many in the racing circuit refer to as the next big thing in Indian motorsport, raced her way into winning major motor sporting competitions across India, including the Ladies Open BND Wars India at Budh International circuit and Mahindra XUV 300 turbo sportswomen with drive off-road adventure zone, among others — all in a span of five years. She started taking part in competitions since 2018, when she was 11.

“I have had an inclination for cars and speed since the age of six,” says Muskaan, who happens to be the youngest and fastest female on the track. She recalls sharing the track with India’s first Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan. “I even took advice from him on how to improve my skills further,” she says of her meeting.

Muskaan with Narain Karthikeyan

Muskaan participated in the Sodi World Series – Karting championship in Dubai in 2020. “Participating at an international level made me stand with the strongest competitors from all around the world. Seeing them perform motivated me also to work harder towards achieving my dreams in motorsport.”

Need for Speed 

Born January, 2007 in Faridabad, Muskaan’s father Jyotinder Singh Jubbal is the owner of Mahindra Stiller Auto Trucks Ltd., which is a manufacturing unit.

“Both my parents and brother are also into motorsport,” informs Muskaan, whose father loves participating in Autocross & TSD Rally formats. Her mother, Amandeep Kaur (Aman Jubbal), is also a National podium holder in Auto Gymkhana and has multiple podiums in Autocross, TSD Rallies & Rally.

Muskaan’s first national championship was the JK Tyre 4-stroke National Karting Championship in 2019. Additionally, in the same year, the FIA conducted three rounds of Girls on Track in India, where Muskaan emerged as the winner in all three rounds in karting slalom and achieved podium placements in sim racing. “These achievements in the first year greatly boosted my confidence in the sport, and there has been no looking back since then. It’s more than just a sport, it’s a passion.”

A strict regimen 

Muskaan is a regular at the Buddh International Circuit (Tarmac) and the Off-Road Adventure Zone (Dirt & Off Road), where she goes for practice. She trains with motorsports enthusiast Rohit Khanna, whom she describes as an excellent coach who contributed to her wins. “I go to the track thrice or four times a week for practice,” says Muskaan.

Muskaan Jubbal

An intensive regimen, which has Muskaan out on the track several times a week, as well as the frequent travel involved in races and training means she has to compromise on school work from time to time. She admits that juggling academics and professional sport isn’t always easy, but she tries to give them her best shot always. “But it’s a bit easier for me as not only my school friends but all my teachers are also extremely supportive and encouraging,” says the youngster.

The youngest on the circuit 

Recalling her experiences from various championships, Muskaan says the perception is different when people don’t know you and tend to treat her like a kid. “But when you win, it’s an entirely different story. Opinions and perceptions do change, and then they have so many questions, which is always fun to answer. When people already know you at the event where you are participating, the expectations are always higher.”

Among her favourite cars is the Porsche 911. “It is unbelievably powerful and beautiful inside and out, and owning one would be a dream come true,” says Muskaan, whose favourite driver is Lando Norris, a Formula 1 driver for Mclaren.

Muskaan Jubbal

In the pipeline 

 So what are her future plans?  “I want to fulfill my dream of becoming one of the best racers for sure. I would certainly love to make racing my full-time profession,” she says.

However, at the same time, Muskaan wants to keep a ‘Plan B’ ready. “It  would undoubtedly involve a business or something related to the automotive industry,” she informs.

When she is not behind the wheels on a racing track, Muskaan loves to cook and try out new recipes. “I love listening to music, baking or you would find me at the golf course. I love playing Golf.”

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