LONDON – Proudly waving the flag of Pakistan across the world in Formula racing circuit, Enaam Ahmed has become the first ever and the only Pakistani to be a World Champion in Karting, beating the records of Formula One drivers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
Not only that, Enaam Ahmed is also the British Formula 3 Champion, the first ever high-level Formula Championship winner in the history of Pakistan and beating the record of Ayrton Senna by winning 13 races in one season.
The 23-year-old is going places around the world with his winning streaks on the dangerous tracks, driving cars at an average 200 miles per hour – making sure that his car carries both British and Pakistani flags. Enaam is one of the brightest and most exciting young racing talents in motorsport. He has been winning Championships and breaking records from the age of 14. Enaam Ahmed is also the most successful Pakistani heritage racing driver ever in the history of motorsport because he is also known as the most successful British Formula 3 driver in history.
Enaam Ahmed was born to Pakistani parents in London 23 years ago. It was at the age of eight that he started taking interest in racing. His parents started funding their son’s passion by sending him to local Go-karting tracks for children but they had no idea that their son would become a European and world champion at the age of 14 - winning it one year younger than Lewis Hamilton who was 15 when he became the world champion.
When Enaam announced his decision for Car racing to his parents, they told him they will not be funding him anymore and he would need to learn to stand on his own feet to explore his opportunities or return to normal life and finish university degree and then do whatever he wants to.
Enaam Ahmed left the comfort of his home immediately to live in Japan, Spain, Italy, New Zealand and the United States to focus on professional driving. He has not looked back ever since.
In an interview, the star racer explained about his achievements. He said: “I was 14 years old when I won five championships in one year. The two most important ones being the European Championship in Go-Karting. I won that when I was 14 years old while Lewis Hamilton had won when he was 15 years old. At the age of 17, I became the British Formula 3 Champion, the first time ever a Pakistani won a major Motorsport championship beating the record of Ayrton Senna.”
Naturally, Enaam Ahmed felt very proud when he beat Lewis Hamilton’s record at the age of 14 in Go Karting which is the most competitive racing one can do at that age and beating Lewis Hamilton’s record was a huge achievement. There was a lot of pressure on him to win those competitions for himself so he could make his name but also to impress his parents and to show them he made the right decision of leaving home at a very young age – when most of his childhood friends played around the nearby Hyde Park.
The most important factor for Enaam Ahmed has been to win these accomplishments as a Pakistani origin racer. He says with pride:” For me it matters the most that I won these races at the world stage as a Pakistani and races at the world championship level and at the European Championship level as a Pakistani. Not just to do it but to win it, this makes me very proud and there is a long way to go.”
Enaam Ahmed has a driving simulator set up at his home in London when he’s with his parents. He’s in the United States where he spends most time as that’s where he drives cars as a professional. He said: “The training is usually twice a day. That’s not the hardest part though. The most difficult thing to do is to go out at that young age and get sponsors as these are sponsors who fund races. I always have to perform and to win in order to stay in the game. If you don’t perform there are no sponsors behind you to move forward. For example right now I race in the United States in the series called Indy Nxt which is leading me to IndyCar - the biggest series in the US.
“I am the first ever and the only Pakistani to take part in these races. Alhamdullilah, I am lucky that I have big sponsors from America who are sponsoring me this year to race in America and they have enabled me to live my dream and get to the top in the two biggest racing series.”
Racing is a sport that is considered unique and daring as the drivers are required to have a lot of courage, especially driving at well over 200 miles an hour at high-speed involving quick turns, twists and dangerous corners. Enaam Ahmed’s mother doesn’t watch any of his Racing and has avoided watching his races, as she doesn’t want to see her son driving at such dangerous speeds.
The racing star says that driving Formula cars is a dangerous sport especially in the US because the average speed there is much higher. He explains: “The walls are very close and these are concrete walls. When you hit a concrete wall at 200 miles an hour you could kill yourself. Racing in America means people get hurt or even killed. That’s dangerous but danger is what this sport is all about. And that makes it exciting for me because at the end of the day you have nothing to lose. My mum and dad don’t agree with this but that’s the way life is.”
The British Pakistani racing star left home at the age of 13 and his father told him he would have to find sponsors on his own. “My father told me you are leaving school; you will have to find sponsors and your niche. I had no sponsors at the start but I won massive races, made and broke records and the sponsors came behind me. I had a lot of support from Pakistani Americans. There are two massive sponsors. One is.. and the other one I cannot talk about at this stage.”
The formula racing driver says he has come across a few Pakistanis and tried to perform with a few of them. He says that they couldn’t make it big because they never had the required support base that’s required. “I was very lucky that I was racing in the UK from a young age and I had more exposure. I trained with the best in the racing field. The problem in South Asian countries of Pakistan and India is there are no racing car facilities and the government pays no attention. There are hardly any good Go Karting tracks, the ones made are in a bad shape. Compare this with the European countries where there are 20 tracks in every country and the sport is loved by millions. I am racing in the US right now and taking part in the biggest racing events. No Pakistani or South Asian has made it this far ever. The only higher priority is to win the Indianapolis 500 race. Then I want to be the first Formula one World champion for Pakistan.”
Enaam Ahmed said that huge costs are involved in this sport. He says his team spends a minimum of USD$ 8 million in each season. “Formula 1 is US$ 150 million a year. Pakistan doesn’t have that kind of resources. People in the West spend huge amounts on this sport. I am lucky and glad that I am liked and picked as a driver. I have always taken risks and my belief is that don’t look back and don’t hold back, even when the world is against me I have always believed that I am the best.”
Enaam Ahmed is currently taking part in the IndyNXT series in the US.
About his future plans, he is optimistic. He says: “I want to finish this year’s season off and race in the Indianapolis 500 next year and be the first Pakistani to do so. Then I will set my target at getting into Formula 1.”
Pakistani rupee continued its momentum against the US dollar, and orther currencies in the open market on Thursday, as the local currency also improved in the inter-bank market.
On Thursday, the US dollar moved down and was being quoted at 283.2 for buying and 286.15 for selling.
Euro comes down to 308 for buying and 311 for selling. British Pound rate dropped to 358.5 for buying, and 362 for selling.
UAE Dirham AED witnessed slight drop and new rate stands at 77.4 whereas the Saudi Riyal remained stable at 76.
Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
---|---|---|---|
US Dollar | USD | 283.2 | 286.15 |
Euro | EUR | 308 | 311 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 358.5 | 362 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 77.4 | 78.1 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 76 | 76.8 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 187.2 | 189 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 757.23 | 765.23 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 209 | 211 |
China Yuan | CNY | 39.89 | 40.29 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 41.19 | 41.59 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 36.41 | 36.76 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 3.42 | 3.53 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 1.39 | 1.45 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 921.71 | 930.71 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 61.02 | 61.62 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 174.54 | 176.54 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 26.05 | 26.35 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 739.62 | 747.62 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 78.22 | 78.92 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 211 | 213 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 27.12 | 27.42 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 324.94 | 327.44 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 8.06 | 8.21 |
Gold price in Pakistan remained under pressure as the yellow metal moved down despite an upward trend in the international market.
On Thursday, the price of a single tola of 24-karat gold stands at Rs217,100 and 10 grams of 24k gold costs Rs186,130.
Single tola of 22 Karat Gold costs Rs199,000, 21 karat rate for per tola is Rs189,960 and 18k gold rate is Rs162,825.00 for each tola.
In the global market, gold prices hover at around $2026, gaining $8.30 on Thursday.
Today Gold Price in Pakistan (4 September 2023)
City | Gold | Silver |
---|---|---|
Lahore | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Karachi | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Islamabad | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Peshawar | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Quetta | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Sialkot | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Attock | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Gujranwala | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Jehlum | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Multan | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Bahawalpur | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Gujrat | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Nawabshah | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Chakwal | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Hyderabad | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Nowshehra | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Sargodha | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Faisalabad | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
Mirpur | PKR 217,100 | PKR 2,565 |
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