Pune’s Diana Pundole: The Mother of Two Who Became the First Indian Woman to Race a Ferrari Internationally
Pune's Diana Pundole: The Mother of Two Who Became the First Indian Woman to Race a Ferrari Internationally
From dominating Indian racing circuits to earning podium finishes on iconic Formula One tracks, Diana Pundole’s remarkable journey has become a milestone for Indian motorsport.
By Vidhi Lalla
Pune: Pune-based racer Diana Pundole has completed a landmark chapter in Indian motorsport by becoming the first Indian woman to race a Ferrari in an international championship. Her campaign in the Ferrari Club Challenge Middle East, which concluded in April 2026, established her as one of India’s most accomplished women racers and brought global recognition to Indian motorsport.
Driving the Ferrari 296 Challenge, Diana competed against experienced international drivers across some of the world’s most celebrated Formula One circuits, including Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain International Circuit, Lusail International Circuit in Qatar, Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia and Dubai Autodrome. The championship is Ferrari’s prestigious one-make racing series that showcases track-focused Ferrari race cars in a highly competitive international environment.
Her debut at the Yas Marina Circuit immediately demonstrated her potential. Competing internationally for the first time and facing seasoned racers, Diana finished fourth, an impressive result that announced her arrival on the global stage.
She followed that performance with an outstanding second-place finish in Bahrain, where she also received special recognition for completing the highest number of laps—88 laps—during the six-hour racing programme, reflecting both her consistency and endurance behind the wheel.
Another career highlight came at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, one of Formula One’s fastest and most technically demanding street circuits. Despite limited experience on the track and its challenging high-speed corners, Diana once again secured second place, proving that her earlier performances were no coincidence.
Her consistent performances, multiple podium finishes and ability to compete against experienced international drivers firmly established her among the championship’s standout newcomers.
Diana’s journey to international racing began in 2018 through the JK Tyre Women in Motorsport Programme, where she first entered competitive circuit racing. Over the following years, she steadily climbed through the ranks of Indian motorsport, competing in touring cars and saloon car championships while earning multiple podium finishes.
Her biggest breakthrough before Ferrari came in 2024, when she became the first Indian woman to win the MRF National Racing Championship in the Saloon Cars category, defeating several experienced male competitors at the Madras International Circuit. That historic victory opened the doors to international racing opportunities.
A 32-year-old mother of two, Diana has often credited her late father for introducing her to motorsport and encouraging her passion for racing from an early age. Today, she combines intensive physical conditioning, simulator practice and race preparation with family responsibilities while competing at speeds exceeding 250 kmph.
Parsi roots
Diana grew up in a loving, close-knit Parsi family that encouraged her to experience everything in life. While her mother, Jasmine Rana, holds a degree in law, her father, Darius Buhariwalla, is a hotelier in Pune.
Her parents introduced her to all kinds of sports and activities quite early on. These included tennis, swimming, bicycling, table tennis, football, skating, badminton, martial arts, hiking and even go-karting. She learnt cooking and farming as well. “Because of this early exposure, I got used to aggressive competition and always wanted to win and be the best.”
She grew up very close to her maternal grandparents who lived in Bombay. “My life was split between Bombay and Pune as I studied at Dastur School (Pune) and spent every single holiday and long weekend in Bombay or at the family farmhouse in the ‘chikoo’ belt of Dahanu,” says Diana, who did quite well academically. She graduated from university with a Master’s in English Literature and Phonetics from Wadia College in Pune.
Reflecting on her historic achievement, Diana said:
“It’s truly an incredible honour. Being part of the Ferrari Club Challenge Middle East as the first Indian woman is a proud moment not just for me but for women in Indian motorsport. I hope it encourages more women to pursue their passion for racing.”
Diana has not only rewritten Indian motorsport history but also shown that talent, discipline and perseverance can take Indian racers to the world’s biggest circuits. Her success is expected to inspire more young women to pursue professional racing and strengthen India’s growing presence on the international motorsport stage.
