A Kerala-based startup, M&N Racing Team, on Saturday, 14 November unveiled plans to develop an entirely new category of racing car designed to bridge the gap between go-karts and Formula 4 — offering aspiring drivers a significantly more affordable route into professional motorsport. The venture has secured the backing of Mathias Lauda, son of the late legendary Formula One world champion Niki Lauda, who has joined the project as a partner.

The Cost Problem in Motorsport

The financial barrier to competitive racing has grown prohibitively steep at every level. Jose Pottomkulam, founder of M&N Racing Team and popularly known as Ootta, noted that a single season of go-karting in India can cost an aspiring driver approximately ₹25 lakh. Progressing from karting to Formula 4 can push that figure to nearly four times higher, while comparable programmes in Europe and the United States can run as much as 10 times the Indian cost.

This financial reality has made competitive racing largely the preserve of wealthy families capable of sustaining years of training and competition expenses — effectively shutting out talented youngsters without deep-pocketed backing.

Mathias Lauda's Backing and What He Said

Speaking at a panel discussion during Huddle Global 2026, organised by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) at Kovalam, Mathias Lauda underscored the scale of the problem. 'It was expensive even when I entered the F1 world in the early 2000s. It has gone up much more,' he said. Lauda, who began racing in his twenties — later than the ideal starting age for those aiming to climb the professional ladder — argued that escalating costs are denying opportunities to talented youngsters across the world.

His association with the venture lends it considerable credibility within global motorsport circles, given the Lauda family's deep roots in Formula One.

The Proposed Car and Its Development Plan

The new racing car will be designed in Kerala and manufactured in Europe using Italian technology. The project aims to establish a structured developmental pathway for young drivers, with safety standards and professional progression built into its framework from the outset. Pottomkulam described the initiative as an effort to carry motorsport innovation from Kerala to a global stage.

The project has already received support from the Kerala Startup Mission, alongside backing from automobile manufacturers and individual financiers. However, further funding will be required to advance it to the next stage of development.

India's Racetrack Shortage and Illegal Racing Risk

The panel at Huddle Global also drew attention to a related structural gap: the acute shortage of dedicated racetracks in India. Speakers noted that the absence of safe, regulated venues is pushing young motorsport enthusiasts towards illegal road racing — exposing themselves and bystanders to serious accidents and fatalities. Developing proper racing infrastructure was identified as equally critical to expanding the sport responsibly.

What Comes Next

M&N Racing Team's roadmap hinges on securing additional funding to move from concept to prototype and, eventually, to a commercially viable racing category. If the project reaches scale, it could open a structured, lower-cost entry point into professional motorsport for drivers from India and beyond — a gap that currently has no dedicated solution between karting and the expensive Formula feeder series.