SONOMA, CA — On April 26, 2026, the roar of engines at Sonoma Raceway was matched by the excited chatter of local youth, as Girl Scouts from Sonoma and Petaluma spent an unforgettable afternoon with Formula 4 driver Yana Kapoor. Facilitated by World Speed, the event offered the girls a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional motorsports and the STEM pathways that drive it.
The afternoon kicked off at the raceway’s Go Kart Track, where the girls and their parents gathered before taking a short walk over to the World Speed facilities. There, they were greeted by Kapoor, and her Formula 4 racing car.
A Multifaceted Role Model
Kapoor isn’t just a force on the asphalt; she balances a demanding life as a student, an engineer, and a professional racer. During an intimate meet-and-greet, she shared her personal journey into motorsports, her future goals, and the importance of representation. She also took the time to highlight her sponsor, Auraah NY, a brand proudly founded and run by a woman, reinforcing the event’s theme of female empowerment in traditionally male-dominated spaces.
Following a lively group Q&A, the girls transitioned into an interactive craft project where they were tasked with designing their very own companies and race cars. As the scouts let their imaginations run wild, Kapoor pulled each girl aside for a truly immersive experience: a chance to sit in the cockpit of the F4 car, snap a commemorative photo, and receive a personal autograph.
“Girl Scouts from Sonoma and Petaluma were honored to be invited to meet Yana Kapoor and her sponsor Auraah NY at Sonoma Raceway. The girls had a fun afternoon meeting Yana and learning about her story of becoming a Formula 4 driver. We can’t wait to watch her journey over the next several years! A huge thanks to World Speed for facilitating this fun event. What a great day at Sonoma Raceway. The girls had so much fun!”
— Darcy McNairy, Girl Scout Volunteer
The group also extended a special note of gratitude to Jessie Panel of Racing America, who generously secured the event passes for the girls and made the unforgettable afternoon possible.
Full Circle at the Track
To cap off the afternoon, Kapoor took the group on a walking tour back to the kart track, pointing out the exact spot where her own racing career began. It was a full-circle moment that made her journey from karting to Formula 4 feel tangible and achievable for the young scouts.
The day concluded with a short walk down to the main grandstand, where the group watched a live Trans Am race, feeling the rumble of the engines and witnessing the high-speed action firsthand before exploring the rest of the raceway.
The impact of the day was evident to everyone involved.
“It was fantastic having the scouts here to engage with Yana about her athletic and academic journey. This event was the perfect opportunity to highlight her multifaceted life as a student, engineer, and racer. I have a feeling a few of the girls caught the racing bug today, and we just might see them on the track in the future.”
— Mark Milazzo, World Speed Representative
What’s Next for Yana
For Kapoor, the momentum doesn’t stop here. She will be back on the track this coming weekend, May 15-17, piloting the #116 Auraah New York F4 car at the Thunderhill Open with Formula Awesome. If the enthusiasm at Sonoma Raceway is any indication, she will have quite a few new fans cheering her on from the stands.
Event Gallery
