Bangalore-based racer Aishwarya Pissay, who finished in the Top 10 in the Raid De Himalaya 2017 and also aced the Dakshin Dare 2017
She almost died conquering the Himalayas, now she's ready to challenge the world's top riders in Spain. Aishwarya Pissay, 22, is set to become the first Indian woman factory racer to compete in the Baja Aregon World Rally in Teruel, Spain. Part of a four-member team, this youngster will ride the Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team's Dakar machine RTR 450 in the rally to be held from July 20 to July 22. Given it's her first international race, Aishwarya is not looking at results, but testing herself with the best in the world. "The major challenge in Spain will be to bridge the gap between me and the foreign racers. I'm not looking at results. My team is focussing on my career progress and finishing the rally," said Aishwarya, who idolises 13-time Spain's women's trial world champion, Laia Sanz and India off-road racer, CS Santosh.
Serial winner
The Bangalore-based racer, who finished in the Top 10 in the Raid De Himalaya 2017 and also aced the Dakshin Dare 2017, Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) 2017 and TVS Apache Ladies One Make Championship 2017, is aware of the gruelling terrain that awaits her. "The standard of Indian events and European races are different. We are not at par with foreign races yet. But it's going to be a nice learning experience," said Aishwarya, who is doing her physical and mental conditioning at the Invictus Performance lab in Bangalore.
Aishwarya Pissay
Talking about her first rally experience, Aishwarya revealed how she almost had a near-death experience in the Himalayas. "During my first Raid de Himalaya, I almost got killed. The rough terrain caused my front brakes to cut off and my gear lever had fallen off and I was stuck in a single gear. I almost fell off a bridge when I realised my brakes were not operating. It was quite an experience, but I was determined to finish the race," said the teen rider.
Great determination
It is this determination that has helped Aishwarya carve a name for herself in the Indian racing scene in only three years despite accidents and career-threatening injuries. "There are injuries and falls, but that doesn't stop me from pursuing my passion. I may break my bones falling off a staircase or on the road, so I might as well do it while doing what I like. In fact, I broke my collar bone during practice last year but within three days I was doing physiotherapy and on the sixth day, I was racing," she said.
Also Read: Aishwarya Pissay: The female pro biker who is speeding ahead
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