It’s always worth pursing your passion and realise your childhood dreams. At 19, Aditya Patel, as Narain Kartikeyan observes, is talented and, most importantly, has age on his side, is all set to pit-test his worth on foreign shores in the Formula BMW Asia-Pacific Series. Signed up by Malaysia-based Team Eurasia Motor Sports, Aditya begins his quest on March 24 at Sepang.

Aditya’s story is not the first of its kind types—five other Indians, including Armaan Ebrahim, have done the six-round series—but what’s important is the decision of the Chennai-based lad to take a shot at knowing where he stands in Asia.

While experts like Narain agree the series is the perfect platform to graduate, the flip side is whether Aditya has achieved enough to move on. As his father, Kamlesh, a former rallying and racing champion questions, “Why not? Nobody wants to get cowed down. And it is all about the confidence that makes one further his dreams.” From winning the karting championship (Rotax Max) to the most recent Formula Rolon title, Aditya, who began his quest behind the wheel in 2000, obviously has his reason to move on.

“You ought to find out your worth,” adds Kamlesh, who has remained Aditya’s inspiration from the first time he allowed the youngster to sit on his lap and steer a car, to buying him a kart at 3, apart from his own racing exploits.

Excited on his forthcoming mission and well aware that the ‘pay drive’—approximately Rs 90 lakh—is a huge expenditure, Aditya says that “finding sponsors is tough and I also do know the responsibility towards them,” to suggest he’s no kid out on a fun trip.

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