In a display of tenacity against a world-class field, young American kart racer Yana Kapoor has secured her first international points in the Champions of The Future series, competing in the event aligned with the F1 Academy program at Al Ain Raceway.
Following a challenging run of prior races, Kapoor delivered a breakthrough performance in the 5th round, battling her way to an impressive P11 finish. The result is a testament to the unforgiving nature of the series; her final time was separated by less than a second from P6, a difference that equated to an average of just 0.06 seconds per lap over 17 grueling laps.
“The competition here is at a very different league,” Kapoor noted. “With the field comprised of World, Continental, and Country champions, there is zero room for error.”
Series Spotlight: The Road from Karting to Single-Seaters
Kapoor’s achievement occurred within the structure of the Champions of The Future (COTF) Academy Program, an elite, cost-controlled international karting series sanctioned by FIA Karting. COTF is designed to develop motorsport talent by providing a highly professional and competitive environment.
The series is formally partnered with F1 Academy, the all-female single-seater championship created by Formula 1 to smooth the transition for young women from karting to the higher echelons of professional racing. The collaboration is vital: F1 Academy supports female drivers in the COTF Academy Program, with the top Senior karters receiving invitations to official F1 Academy tests, establishing a clear pathway for progression.
Team Support
Kapoor extended her sincere thanks to the individuals and organizations instrumental in her journey, including the event organizers, James Geidel of RGMMC GmbH, Susie Wolff, and Katie Denver of F1 Academy. She also recognized her dedicated technical support team: engineer Ben Calvo, Speedsense Motorsports, Drake Motorsports, and Jim Perry of CKT – Chicago Karting Technologies, as well as her parents and brother, YashOm Kapoor, who provided the initial inspiration for her career.
With this landmark points finish, Yana Kapoor is set to launch the next phase of her strategy, focusing on the future of American karting development.