Abu Dhabi-based karting driver Ahren Manhas. ARCHIVE

When you ask Ahren Manhas, a 23-year-old Indian racing driver based in Abu Dhabi, about his backup plan if motorsport doesn’t work out, he doesn’t flinch. “There’s definitely pressure in having no backup plan, but I see that as a privilege. It means I’m all in,” Ahren tells Expat Media. All in—on speed, on sacrifice, and on a singular dream: to become one of the greatest racing drivers in the world. This is not just a story of fast laps and podium finishes. It’s about grit, late nights, early mornings, and what happens when a kid raised in one of the world’s richest cities dares to chase an oil-slicked dream on his own terms. It didn’t start with a motorsport pedigree or a family name plastered across pit walls. It started with a milkshake. “I was 14, grabbing a milkshake at Johnny Rockets near the old Yas Kartzone,” Ahren recalls. “I heard the engines and couldn’t take my eyes off the track. A few days later, I came back with my parents, gave it a shot—and might’ve even set a track record that day.” That serendipitous moment was the ignition switch. Ahren’s love for racing wasn’t handed to him—it was hunted down with obsession and cultivated in every corner turned and every tenth of a second shaved. Since then, he's left tire marks across time-attack events, endurance and sprint karting, joker races, sim sessions, and most recently, on the FIA Formula 4 testing grid. His racing résumé includes 42 wins, 115 podiums, and two SWS Karting World Finals qualifications—a résumé most drivers would envy. Racing in the UAE, especially in Abu Dhabi, is not for the faint of heart—or wallet. But Ahren's family backed his dream with tough love, total trust, and sacrifice. “They’ve done everything—financial sacrifices, driving me to training, and calling me out when I needed it,” he says. “They kept me grounded and focused. I couldn’t have done it without them.” This support system helped build not just a driver, but a man who knows the value of every lap. It also set the foundation for what Ahren calls his biggest motivator: being the outsider in a sport riddled with nepotism. “I didn’t grow up in this world. I’ve had to find my way here,” he says. “Many might find the cards I’ve been dealt impossible to overcome, but I think it gives me a fresh new perspective.” Abu Dhabi might be known for glitz and supercars, but for Ahren, growing up in the UAE’s cultural melting pot gave him a mental edge. “It taught me adaptability. How to listen, respond, and stay composed under pressure. On track, that means adjusting to setups or unexpected weather. Off track, it means I can connect with people from anywhere.” He applies that same mindset to his daily routine. When not racing, Ahren keeps sharp through rock climbing and even cooking. “Cooking is weirdly similar to racing. You need focus, creativity, and timing.” But don’t expect him to stay idle for long. He’s constantly in training—either at Yas Marina Circuit, where he’s also preparing to become an instructor, or on the sim for virtual sessions that rival real track time.

The Ahren mindset

His racecraft is best described in three words: Adaptable. Controlled aggression. Confident. It’s not just about going fast—it’s about going smart. Every decision he makes on track is rooted in intention, not impulse. Before each race, he swears by a five-minute meditation to “clear the noise” and “lock in.” His theme song? Thriller by Michael Jackson. Fitting—because when he’s on track, it is a show. “I’m not racing just for me—I’m racing for every kid who’s ever had to bet everything on their dream.” Ahren’s goals are crystal clear: Enter full-season competitive racing by Q1 2026, with testing lined up for late 2025; win a Formula 1 or IndyCar feeder series championship and secure partnerships and sponsorships across international markets, especially in India, MENA, North America, and Southeast Asia. Ultimately? Formula 1. He’s not just building a racing career—he’s laying the groundwork for long-term disruption in a sport that needs fresh stories, new heroes, and different voices. “I want to break into markets that haven’t been tapped at the European level. There’s so much talent and passion globally—why not spotlight that?” Ahren isn’t your typical racing prodigy. He’s not from a dynasty. He’s not backed by billionaires. But what he lacks in pedigree, he more than makes up for in precision, passion, and presence. He’s a long-game player in a sport that often chases short-term hype. And he’s just getting started. “The goal isn’t just to race. It’s to change what it means to belong in motorsport.” PGD/Expat Media

Quick laps with Ahren

Helmet hair or bald forever? Helmet hair, 100%. Bald is forever. Three things in your race bag? My secret hydration mix, my helmet, and my racing boots. Dream circuit? Yas Marina, hands down—but Belgium, Hungary, and Brazil are close. Singapore looks wild too. Who would you love to beat in a kart race? Michael Schumacher. Obvious, but iconic. Cheat meal after a big win? Anything with carbs—pizza or Indo-Chinese. Weirdest fan message? Someone once asked me to describe what a kart smells like. I said, “Rubber, fuel, and dreams.” This story also appears in the Expat Media Special Edition magazine
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