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Participating in the MRF National Racing Championship season 2022-23, Diana Pundole of Poona not only bagged the Ladies Championship trophy after winning the ladies class in all the races of the season but also secured several podiums in mixed categories where males and females compete together. In fact, even in the mixed events she was able to set the fastest lap in some races which was considered "a great achievement.”
She enjoys the distinction of being the only woman in India to participate in two categories — Indian Junior Touring Cars (IJTC) and MRF Saloons — in a single racing season. In a detailed note to Parsiana, Pundole explained: "It means jumping in and out of two types of racing cars four times in a single day, for three days each weekend of racing. This is a major challenge physically and the main reason why there have never been any females who have ever ventured to do something like this before.” The first round of the Championship was in September 2022 and the next three rounds in January 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She is the first and only female to participate in the acclaimed IJTC mixed category considered "a fiercely competitive racing championship meant for seasoned racers” with a minimum experience of 10 to 20 years. "My fastest lap at the Madras International Circuit in this category was 1.54.05 (minutes),” reported Pundole. In the MRF Saloon cars she won "the best female racer championship having won all the 20 races of the season in the women’s category. I also stood third in the general MRF Saloon class championship (including males and females). That’s the first time a female has been on the podium in a national racing championship competing with men,” she listed her achievements.
Sponsored by prestigious teams that she races for, at the IJTC, Pundole was at the wheel of a semi-modified 160 hp Honda City representing Team Race Concepts Motorsport. At the MRF Saloon cars event she drove a Toyota Etios for Team Redline Racing. Her personal fastest in the MRF Saloons was 2.01.603 minutes around the "technical” Madras International Circuit and 1.54.558 minutes in the IJTC category. The Madras Circuit is considered technical for its "incredibly challenging layout, blind corners, elevations, etc” requiring higher levels of technique from drivers navigating the course. Pundole’s "sheer pace and scale of determination displayed making zero mistakes is incredible to see,” noted a write-up on the racer.
She has been steadily expanding her horizons by crossing borders to race at renowned tracks like the Dubai Autodrome, Hockenheimring, F1 Circuit de Spa in Belgium and many other world famous Formula 1 racing circuits in Europe and the UAE. Starting with the Renault Clio Cup, Ferrari 488 challenge, BMW M2 Competition, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, etc, she has proven her skills in a variety of race cars. In her drive to master the fastest lines on different tracks, she enjoys the careful study of data and driving techniques.
Daughter of Jasmine Rana and Darius Buhariwalla, Diana mentioned, "My father was a serious fan and follower of Formula 1 but only after his premature death did my career in racing take off. Apart from my own dedication to motorsport, I feel he has a lot to do with how successful I am and he does watch over me…”
When Parsiana had last written about her (see "Fast forward to Formula 4,” Sports, December 21, 2018) on her selection for the six-member Ahura Racing team of women drivers, she had stated she enjoys her hobbies — painting, gardening, cooking, singing in a choir and playing the piano. While she continues to pursue these interests, "I have not been able to put in the same amount of time because I have begun to travel to European Formula racing circuits to develop and excel at my driving skills,” she clarified in her WhatsApp message on June 22, prior to boarding a return flight to India after a challenging two days of race training at the Autodrome Brno, Czech Republic, "one of the most exhilarating tracks” she has driven on with its maximum elevation of 74 m.