Latest / BREAK/FIX the Motorsports & Vehicle Enthusiast Variety Show / Screen to Speed No.50: Phoebe Nongrum

Transcript

Screen to Speed No.50: Phoebe Nongrum · BREAK/FIX the Motorsports & Vehicle Enthusiast Variety Show

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Welcome to Screen to Speed, powered by Init eSports.
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In this podcast, we dive into the journeys of remarkable individuals
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making waves in sim racing and bridging the virtual with the real.
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From the thrill of digital circuits to the roar of real life racetracks, we explore
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the passion, dedication, and innovation that drives the world of motor sports.
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We'll hear from athletes, creators, and pioneers sharing their stories,
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insights, and the powerful ways sim racing is connecting communities and
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creating pathways into motor sports.
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So buckle up screen to speed starts now.
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Hello.
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Hello.
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Welcome everybody to any talks.
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Uh, happy to see everyone here.
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We got, uh, gram today with us.
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Uh, welcome.
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Thank you so much for having me.
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Uh, it's lovely to, this is my first time with you guys, so
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this is pretty exciting for me.
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Yeah, that's great.
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Thank you so much for joining us, uh, today.
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Uh, so you're the only one, uh, female professional racer
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from, uh, your city in India.
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Uh, so what does it mean for you personally?
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Well, uh, you know, uh, it's actually a very, very big deal.
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Uh, I think words can even express or, you know, explain
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what a big deal this is to me.
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Uh, like the reason being firstly, you know, uh, getting into racing
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in India is quite a difficult task.
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Um.
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Apart from the fact that I come from a very tiny, um, part of
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India, it's even another, uh, you know, uh, another difficult step.
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Uh, basically, um, I come from the north eastern part of India
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from a very small town called, uh, it's in the state of Mikhale.
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And, uh, you know, like every other person, every
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other kid had a dream, right?
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The same goes to me.
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Was barely like just a dream basically, which was not even, uh, in my wildest
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thoughts that it would ever, ever be possible to ever touch a racing guy, ever.
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So I think, uh, sometimes I myself need to, you know, pinch myself
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and say, Hey, hello little girl.
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Did you actually get here?
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So it actually means quite a big deal for me.
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Uh, sometimes I'm still in denial of the fact that I made it this far.
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Okay.
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That's great.
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Uh, did you have anyone in your family who was into racing actually.
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See that is the best part.
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None.
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Um, you know, since it's a small town, everybody here actually don't, we
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don't even have big companies here.
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Right.
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Because it's a small town.
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Mm-hmm.
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So everyone is dependent on either being an entrepreneur, running their
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own small businesses, or, you know, working with the government basically.
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Right.
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So government jobs are very well loaded, right town, like everyone
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who, uh, finishes their studies.
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Rush for these exams for government jobs.
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Right.
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So, uh, I myself, you know, um, has, uh, have parents who work with the government.
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So there is nobody in my family, like either, some of my family members would be
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doctors or nurses or engineers, you know, but none in the motor sports, uh, field.
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So I think I was the only one who stepped, took that step out.
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And, uh, you know, uh, stepped into the motor, uh, world, which.
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Wasn't, uh, wasn't, you know, accepted, uh, in, at first, you know, that way.
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Mm-hmm.
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So now nobody from my family is in that background, so I think
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I'm the one who took that first step to get into motor sports.
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Mm-hmm.
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You're really brave, uh, to be first one, uh, from your family
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to jump into Motorsport actually.
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Uh, do you remember the exact moment when you knew that racing was actually for you?
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Uh, you know, um, I never actually thought of that because I. I finished
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my studies and, uh, finished my, um.
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Graduation and, uh, I think I was myself aiming.
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I worked for a while.
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Uh, I was in a different state in India from my town where I
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finished my graduation and I started working in a different city in the
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south, the southern part of India.
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And, uh.
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I was working there for about 12 years.
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So I think, um, I mean, I worked a couple of jobs.
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I worked with Red Bull.
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Red Bull, I worked with a few mm-hmm.
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Companies and, uh, but still, you know, I, I, I didn't feel I fit in and I
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thought to myself like, I feel so lost.
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Like, you know, I've done my graduation.
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Uh, now I'm working.
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I'm supposed to be happy.
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Like I have a good job and like I'm making good money, but
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something seems to be missing.
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Mm-hmm.
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So, uh, I never still even thought about the wild dream, you know?
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Mm-hmm.
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Getting into a race, uh.
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But then, uh, once finally day I decide I'm done with these jobs.
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I need a break.
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Like I just a job and to try and figure out what I exactly wanna do.
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What is this feeling that I'm feeling that I'm missing out?
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Uh, so I took a big step.
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I took a break from working and everything else.
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I came back home.
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I. Uh, it was then when, you know, we have these, uh, local, local events like,
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you know, like, uh, a small autocross in the dirt track and stuff like that.
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Mm-hmm.
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So I had a friend who was like, Hey, you've always been wanting to do stuff
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like this, you know, here, take my car.
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Just go drive.
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Mm-hmm.
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You know, uh, maybe, you know, somehow you, you'll, you'll do well.
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I said, uh, no.
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He's like, no, just go take my car.
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No big deal.
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You know, I'm like.
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Okay, fine.
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Let me give it a shot.
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So I think that was the moment when I got into that car and uh, drove and
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that's when I felt that, you know, sitting in that seat, in the racing seat.
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And that's when I was like, I think I belong here.
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Mm-hmm.
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You know, so that was the moment for me where I was like, I think I should take
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this break and go racing for a year and see where I, you know, actually end up.
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Where I actually, um, if I can actually make it somewhere with this racing.
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Mm-hmm.
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Right.
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So that was the time when, you know, I felt that I belonged.
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And right after that, I, uh, got into other, uh, disciplines of racing
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and uh, and then it just kept going.
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So I just thought to myself, okay, this is exactly where I should be.
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Yeah.
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That's awesome.
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Uh, can you tell me a bit more about your first, uh, racing event, which happened?
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How was it for you, what kind of emotions you get, and, uh, what kind
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of experience that was overall for you?
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Basically, um, that was all local event, but it started from there.
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And, uh, after that, I, I got called, like I had a few friends who already introduced
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me since I was in, I was studying in the south of India, like I said, and,
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uh, I had a few friends in the field.
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So someone I had known had called me and said, uh, you
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know what, uh, there's someone.
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Was actually hosting a hunting for, and it's going to be the first, um, the
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first formula of female team in India.
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And uh, I was like, okay.
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And they were like, we think you should enroll for that.
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You know, we think you should, um, participate, you should
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try, you should give it a shot.
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Go round and uh, see if you've got it in you.
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And I was like, that's so interesting.
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Like the first female formula racing team in India.
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Mm-hmm.
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And, uh, I was like, uh, sure, why not?
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So I got in touch.
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Um, I got in touch with the team, the team's name is Ura saying,
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and, uh, the, the mentor, the coach of URA saying, the owner of the
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team, and he was ex, he explained to me what, uh, what's to be done.
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And so the next thing I knew, I was down south again in a place
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called and, uh, at the tracks over there, the motorway and, um.
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Uh, and this was, uh, an event that usually, uh, you know, uh, every
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year it's a season based event, of course, which is hosted by JY Tires.
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So it was a Cheeky Tire Formula, formula Championship, formula four Championship.
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Mm-hmm.
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And, uh, this, uh, the time was a big step for me.
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It was the main step for me that I got him to race.
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I got there, uh, 60 women from around India had came for that event.
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Uh, some of them, uh, you know, who made it through the team were
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that are familiar with the track.
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Some of them had a little bit of cutting experience and things
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like that, the basics, basically.
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And, uh, as for me, uh, I was someone and the few others that
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were there, I was completely blank.
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Like, I've never seen a formula car before.
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Mm-hmm.
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You know, have I, I, have I ever like, gone so close to
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it, not touched it, you know?
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So this one time I was like, okay, I'm actually gonna drive this thing
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and I don't know how it works.
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But then anyway, uh, during the challenge hand, I drove my vest.
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Um, I got very good lab timings on the formula car, so I
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made it to the top six lead.
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Team.
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Mm-hmm.
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So the team, uh, each team had to have six drivers.
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So I made it to the top six.
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And, uh, so I drove the first season then.
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So that was when, uh, you know, I knew that, okay, I should continue as, as long
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as I can flow, go, uh, further with this, I'm just going keep on moving, you know?
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Mm-hmm.
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So decided that at that point of time, so on the second season.
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Uh, is when I, uh, actually, you know, uh, got into podium.
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Uh, I created history for, uh, you know, for my state, uh,
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being the first, uh, formula
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and, you know, achieving a podium mm-hmm.
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In that, uh,
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formula.
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And, uh, after that, uh, you know, then unfortunately for me, the pandemic had,
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had, uh, happened, you know, so I did not, uh, get any more chance to go racing.
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So it was a break for a while for me.
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Mm-hmm.
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And, uh, yeah.
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So, but that was how, uh, everything kick started for me.
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Mm-hmm.
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Uh, driving at the J Tire Championship.
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That's great.
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You got, uh, actually real good results in, uh, in formula.
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Um, so how, uh, your family react, uh, that you jumping into Motorsport?
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Uh, so you, you only one person from your family Yeah.
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Who did this?
10:55
Yeah.
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Yeah.
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So basically, uh, I even came back home, like when I took the break to come home.
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Um, my dad was like, Hey, what about like, you know, uh, maybe shifting
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to the, a government job, you know?
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Mm-hmm.
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Uh, there's something here called, uh, the civil exams where you, you know, you write
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the exam and then you become like, uh.
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Like, uh, uh, one of the officers, like a big rank officers.
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Mm-hmm.
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So it's an Indian civil exam.
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So I was like, okay, maybe why not?
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Since I'm back and stuff, I even prepared for the exam.
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You will not believe it on the day of the prelims exams.
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It was the same day for the formula, uh, selection round, you know.
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So I went to my dad and I was like, Hey, listen, something came up.
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He's like, what do you mean you have an exam today?
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And, uh, I was like, um, no, but um, this is something very important to me.
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So I was like, um, maybe I should go and, uh, you know, give it a shot.
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If this doesn't work, I will never like, talk about racing anymore
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and probably get into this.
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Series, you know, bit of, uh, maybe working for the government
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or something like that.
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Mm-hmm.
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So I don't think, uh, they took it well because I don't think so.
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It was something familiar to them.
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I don't think they saw the fact that, you know, there's a lot that
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can be, can be done through racing.
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Like you can actually mm-hmm.
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Uh, uh, like, you know, make a living or like, you can get far with this because of
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course, like I'm from a very small town.
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No basics of cutting at all, like zero.
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Okay.
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Mm-hmm.
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Till today, I don't think I caught.
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So, uh, but then, you know, um, since I started driving at an earlier age,
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I think that's how like I managed.
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But yeah, so it, they didn't take it well.
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So every time I would have to go racing, I would not tell them beforehand my plans.
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Mm-hmm.
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I would just tell them a day or two before I leave.
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Mm-hmm.
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So that, you know, they don't have.
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That much time to think and then, you know, worry about it and then,
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you know, end up telling me like, no, you know, you can't go this, that.
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Mm-hmm.
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So I don't give them the time.
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I just tell them like, just before I go, uh, a day or two and uh, by
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the time to process it, I'm gone.
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You know?
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Mm-hmm.
13:09
And then I always come back with a trophy.
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So I think, uh, you know, eventually they got used to it.
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Mm-hmm.
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Like, ah, okay, she's going there, she's coming back with a trophy.
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So it is just, it just got used to that fact.
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Mm-hmm.
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You get really good plan to, you adapt your family to your, uh.
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It's racing and then you're doing it.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Love it.
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Yeah.
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I have to find a way.
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Yeah.
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You said in, in the presentation, which you sent to me, that you, uh, once you
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inspire both, uh, like boys and girls, uh, why is that important to you?
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Uh, you know, I mean, like coming from a small town, you know, I think,
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uh, I myself, I. Couldn't imagine, you know, that I would get here.
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So, and I, a lot of other younger, uh, females and males, like
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boys and girls from my state.
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Who also aspire to, you know, get into such things, you know, like
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get into motor sports or like any type of discipline of motor sports.
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Everybody has their own, you know, some of them love the speed, some of them
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love the techniques, you know, this, uh, maybe some of them love drifting, some
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of them love, uh, maybe formula racing.
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Some of them would love the dirt, like rallying and the rest, mo
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motocross, uh, you know, biking, like dirt biking, stuff like that, right?
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So for me, uh, I think it's very important.
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Uh, you know, to inspire them so that, you know, they'd see me and
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they'd be like, you know, if she can do it, so can we, you know?
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Uh, so they would actually pick up themselves, find their way on
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how to get about, like, how I did.
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Uh, it wasn't easy for me, definitely when I started, because
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like I said, I was the first one.
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Now I'm, I'm someone who had to think, how do I behave my own way?
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How do I make, uh, you know, uh, this.
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Way for myself, uh, in motor sports.
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How do I get far?
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Like, it was a lot for me.
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Uh, and uh, somehow I managed.
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So now that I'm here, I would like to, I would love to inspire them to
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look into the sport if they have the.
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Uh, why waste it?
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You know?
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Um, gone are the days where people are like, oh no, you can't make it,
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you know, uh, this is difficult.
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And, you know, I don't think anything is difficult if you put your mind into it.
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So that's what I want to put across to them.
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I, I've been trying, uh, my level best.
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I've also started a motorsports, uh, society here.
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And, uh, through that society is where I'm trying to, you know,
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help the younger generation.
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Mm-hmm.
15:48
Recently we had, uh, we had a male who.
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Performed really well.
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We also had a few females, uh, but they're not ready yet to go to the track.
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But the mayor was ready.
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So we had helped him with, uh, you know, uh, doing his first Indian National
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Rally Championship, uh, the first round, uh, that happened in the south
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of India again in, so we have put him across through the first round, okay?
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Mm-hmm.
16:14
So this is just ways, I mean, we don't have that much fundings,
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but whatever we can what, however I can, I'm just trying to help.
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So that, you know, they feel that, okay, we have support, so they
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work harder and you know mm-hmm.
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They plan, um, accordingly on how they wanna work, uh, so that they can, you
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know, build a future in more sports.
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Mm-hmm.
16:35
So that's what I would like to inspire.
16:38
Yeah.
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Yeah, it's actually great you got, uh, society to inspire, uh,
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next generation yet to get into racing, especially in India.
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So I actually understand how, uh, hard it can be because I'm from
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Kazakhstan, I'm from Almany, and uh, when I started racing, uh, yeah, like.
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Not a lot of people, uh, get into this.
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Uh, so now we got, uh, big circuit.
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We got, uh, card circuit, like, uh, racing, uh, develop, uh, quite fast here.
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Great.
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Uh, so it's, uh, really cool to see, uh, that people get into it, uh, jump
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into racing and, uh, having fun here.
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Um, and, uh, speaking, uh, forward.
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So how do you feel to be a female racing driver in, uh, this motor sport industry?
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Because, uh, personally I met some stereotypes.
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Uh, and, uh, then you just, you know, you're finishing on a podium.
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You just beat all these boys and they like, uh, crying in boxes.
17:42
Yeah.
17:43
Yeah.
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And, and just, uh, stop talking, uh, bad things about you.
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So how was it for you?
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Yeah.
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I mean, uh, forget boys.
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I mean, sometimes there are even girls, you know, like women.
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I mean, not maybe in the spot, but maybe it could be even
17:58
someone you know, or your friend.
18:00
Mm-hmm.
18:01
Or you know, somebody like that.
18:02
Like, it's just so weird that people sometimes, you know, cannot
18:05
really appreciate someone for doing.
18:08
Uh, their best, you know, especially in this spot, because being a
18:12
female in this spot is not easy competing with the men, right?
18:15
Mm-hmm.
18:16
Um, I think, I think when I started my first formula racing, I think, uh, every
18:20
time I would go so close to a guy in front of me and try to overtake, he would panic.
18:25
You know?
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He could see that, you know, there's a, there's panic over there.
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Tension.
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And then, and then when you push too hard, then they start like,
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oh my God, she pushed me so hard.
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Like, I think that's the idea of the spot.
18:38
I need to like sh you a bit so I can overtake, you know?
18:42
Mm-hmm.
18:42
Like, I need to find my space.
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So I think for even the slightest thing, like when they get shoved a
18:47
bit, they, they get so overwhelmed.
18:49
The fact that, oh my goodness, the female shocked me out there.
18:52
She trying to overtake, you know, I.
18:56
Feel, um, they're just not used to it, especially here now in India, that female,
19:00
uh, are coming up like female drivers are coming up and with competing with them,
19:04
and I don't think, you know, that sits well with them because they're so used to
19:09
in, uh, you know, uh, they're still used to their own world, like men against men.
19:14
But, uh.
19:16
Of course we have those wonderful, uh, male drivers as well who are supportive.
19:20
Like I have met a lot of supportive male drivers who would suggest
19:24
things to me, who would guide me, who would say like, you know, you're
19:26
doing well, you should push harder.
19:28
Yeah, we have those as well.
19:30
But then again, yeah, uh, we always find the stereo stereotyping ones
19:34
also, uh, you know, uh, some of them cannot take it, so it hits their ego.
19:40
It's very sad, but, uh, yeah, it's actually fun for me because the more
19:44
I know, like I'm, you know, uh, I'm scared you and I'm hitting your ego.
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I'm like, come on, this is so much fun.
19:51
Like, you know, the more you tell me I can't do it, the
19:54
more I show you how I do it.
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So it's just, it's just, I like the challenge.
19:58
It's kind of a challenge to me and it's actually fun, you know?
20:01
Mm-hmm.
20:02
That way.
20:03
So stereotyping, I've had many.
20:05
But also on the other hand, I, I also give credit to the few that,
20:10
you know, actually support me.
20:11
I mean, I've had a lot being all by myself, starting this, a new
20:15
journey on my own and having some of them supporting me is really great.
20:19
Like, you know, in the.
20:21
Of course at the tracks is what I mean.
20:23
Mm-hmm.
20:23
And then of course, uh, day to day, right, you meet someone,
20:26
they ask you, oh, what do you do?
20:27
You're a female.
20:27
Oh, you drive a racing car?
20:29
Oh my god.
20:29
You know, like, uh, um, the first time, yeah, the first race I had done
20:33
and got like, first a few races that I had done, basically got a podium.
20:37
I had someone telling me, what are you doing with your life?
20:40
I'm like, I'm actually enjoying this racing, but.
20:44
I'm not even thinking, you know, I took a break from working for
20:48
so long and I'm, I'm having fun.
20:50
And this person had come to me and said like, but you know, you're
20:53
not gonna make it anywhere, right?
20:54
Because this is like, uh, you know, this is Shalong and you live in
20:57
India and you know you are a woman.
20:59
You know?
21:00
Um mm-hmm.
21:00
It's, it's, it's, you are not, it's just going to be fun for now.
21:04
What are you going to do in the future?
21:05
I said, I don't think, if I can predict the future, I think, you know, I would.
21:09
Like right now, it's how I would work towards it, but because I can't
21:12
predict it, I think I'd like to listen.
21:15
You know?
21:15
I mean mm-hmm.
21:16
I'd like to take it one step at a time.
21:18
So this person was like, oh, I have fun while it still lasts.
21:23
Like the way the person said it was like, you know, as if like, you know, oh yeah,
21:28
it's gonna be for a while, so just have fun and you're gonna go down after that.
21:32
But then, you know, I kept climbing up instead.
21:34
So there was one time when I got a podium and I actually said this
21:38
was to that person, you know?
21:40
Mm-hmm.
21:40
Who said that I was not going to make it.
21:41
This podium is for you, you know?
21:43
Uh, because you said that I wasn't going to make it far.
21:47
Is the reason why I pushed myself even more, you know?
21:50
Mm-hmm.
21:50
So here I am now, enjoy and watch me, you know, lift my teeth, you
21:54
know, that was how it was for me.
21:58
So sometimes I can get really cheeky like that and someone pushes me much.
22:02
I'd be like, okay, you know, it's okay, but I'll just show you how it's done.
22:06
You know, I don't have to say or fight or, you know, say anything
22:10
back to you, to you and make you feel bad for making me feel bad.
22:15
And just show you how bad it seems to actually see someone actually,
22:19
you know, do something the opposite of what you are saying, you know?
22:22
Mm-hmm.
22:22
It's like that.
22:23
So basically all in all, all the good and the bad and, you know, all
22:26
the stereotyping, uh, so far has been fun for me because the more
22:30
they try to pull me down, the more I actually show them the results.
22:35
Mm-hmm.
22:35
So it's actually kinda, it's kind of a good challenge actually.
22:38
You know, I look at, I take it in that way, you know?
22:41
The more you pull me down, the more I get up.
22:43
So it's good.
22:44
Keep doing it.
22:46
Yeah.
22:48
Oh, that's, that's good.
22:49
Yeah.
22:49
I think I'm in the same way as you.
22:51
Uh, so, uh, no one can, can, can beat me.
22:55
Yeah.
22:56
No one, uh, can, uh, I, I, it would be really interesting if, it would be
23:01
really interesting if we meet one fine day, have a team, and maybe be racing
23:07
against, you know, some of them out there.
23:11
Mm. And I really like the, the thing which you said about, uh, that, that
23:15
you're living in present because, uh, really sometimes it's really hard to, uh.
23:20
Plan anything in racing, uh, because all depends on many factors like
23:25
sponsors and, uh, like companies who are interested in you.
23:29
And, uh, uh, yes, like I, I've been taking part in the formal of four, formal three
23:35
as well, and we had to program with my, uh, as motor sports team till the F1.
23:42
Uh, but, uh, eventually they just, uh, shut down, uh,
23:46
the team, uh, the next year.
23:48
Oh.
23:48
Uh, yeah, and I just, uh, during COVID I jump into streaming, jump
23:53
into I racing and actually enjoying to be a part of this community.
23:58
So you always, uh, you know, you, you always got, uh, opportunities next to you.
24:03
Uh, and, uh, you just have to take them and, uh, go for them.
24:08
And it doesn't matter, you know, if you.
24:11
Like in racing car?
24:13
Uh, I think being in motor sport overall in racing industry, you got
24:17
diff uh, different opportunities, uh, to be in this industry.
24:21
Um, not only as a racing driver, but uh, also as a like racing engineer or
24:27
maybe, uh, sim racer, maybe someone else.
24:30
So it's, uh, cool that, uh, industry getting better and we got, uh, like
24:34
more space for everybody and more, uh, job for everybody here as well.
24:42
So I, I know that you not planning really far away, but, uh, what would
24:47
be your dream, uh, series where you would like to take a part in, maybe
24:52
in the future, if it's possible.
24:55
So what that will be for you.
24:57
Um, there are a few things of course that I have in mind.
25:00
I mean, I don't know if I'd get that far, but again, like I said, you
25:03
know, you can always dream, but you never know that dream might come true.
25:07
So there are a few, uh, series that I'd love to be part of.
25:11
Uh, firstly it would be the W series.
25:13
Mm-hmm.
25:13
You know, I don't know if that's happening again or not, but
25:16
it happened for a few seasons.
25:18
I think two seasons happened.
25:20
Uh.
25:21
Uh, two or three seasons.
25:22
I would love to be part of the W Series, even if it's not, uh, you
25:26
know, me getting so far, it would be lovely to drive, you know?
25:29
Mm-hmm.
25:30
And, uh, apart from that, of course, um, the other part of the, the
25:34
other discipline of motor sports that I love would be rallying.
25:37
So I would love to.
25:39
Uh, you know, make it to the WRC, the World Rally Championship.
25:42
Mm-hmm.
25:43
Again, like even if I do not make it that far, at least I should make it somewhere
25:47
there, you know, drive those stages, uh, you know, get a chance to, uh, drive a
25:52
few stages maybe, or if I'm lucky enough, have a sponsor for the whole season.
25:57
But, uh, you know, a few rounds in these, uh, would be really amazing for me.
26:01
Uh, and of course I'm open to other disciplines of, uh, racing, but, um, all
26:06
these are not available in India, right?
26:08
So, and I have to go out and then again, like, you know, I
26:11
have to step out of my country.
26:12
And then again, for that, like you saying, uh, sponsors, uh, is very difficult,
26:17
especially for women drivers, um, I mean for male drivers as well as, so it gets
26:22
even more difficult for women drivers.
26:24
Um, because I think, uh, you know, uh, most sponsors are still trying to wrap
26:30
their head around the fact that, okay, it's a female driver or should we invest
26:33
or should we not invest, you know?
26:35
Mm-hmm.
26:35
These things, I think still, um, you know, uh, goes about in their
26:39
head like, should we put in this much effort and stuff like that.
26:43
It is kind of difficult for them as well.
26:44
I understand.
26:45
But it's also difficult for us because then again, you know,
26:48
we have, we have these, um.
26:51
Uh, thoughts in them.
26:52
Like, I mean, we have people who still think that it's a female.
26:56
Uh, should we or should we not still, you know?
26:59
Mm-hmm.
26:59
But, uh, I hope that, you know, there are more sponsors that don't think, I mean,
27:04
because if they give their trust in us and they do sponsor, I think that's when we,
27:10
uh, you know, even just ask people just.
27:13
As human beings, uh, you know, tend to work harder.
27:16
Mm-hmm.
27:17
The more, uh, we, we have someone to support us, the more we have
27:20
someone to believe in us, I think that's when we also, uh, are
27:25
able to give in our all right.
27:26
I mean, if I come to you and I'll be like, Hey, you know what?
27:30
You are good, but not so good.
27:32
I think that's gonna make you question yourself.
27:34
So instead of me coming to you and saying that, like, Hey,
27:38
you are good, but not so good.
27:40
If I was a sponsor, I'd be like, Hey, listen, I'm gonna
27:42
put my everything in you.
27:43
So you know, give me that minute or give me that second, make
27:47
it come whatever, you know?
27:48
Mm-hmm.
27:49
Um, I believe in you.
27:51
We are gonna do this as a team.
27:52
I think if things come in more positively in that way, I think, uh,
27:57
you know, they get most out of it.
27:59
You know?
27:59
Mm-hmm.
28:00
Any in any field is what I'm trying to say.
28:02
Because when you have doubts, it's when you know, even us as drivers,
28:07
we of course when once we put that helmet on, there's a lot that goes
28:10
on in our head right before we start.
28:13
And of course after we start, we forget everything and we just on
28:17
it, like at it on track, right?
28:19
So once we get that support, we know we have someone who's supporting or
28:23
someone with positivity, someone looking forward to get something good out of us.
28:27
I think that's what pushes us to do better.
28:29
Mm-hmm.
28:29
Know pushes us more.
28:30
So I think if we create that space of, you know, irrelevant if you're a female
28:35
or a male driver, you know, uh, come in as a sponsor, uh, help out, you know,
28:40
see, maybe you can try always with, they need a, sponsors could always
28:44
try with the drivers for a season or two, see how they work, you know?
28:47
Mm-hmm.
28:48
Uh, that way I'm sure they would find three, four female
28:52
races who are good at it.
28:54
Jimmy Chadwick is like really amazing.
28:56
Mm-hmm.
28:57
Sophie is, uh, also amazing, you know, so I mean, like, um, these drivers
29:02
have also proven, uh, Doreen, right?
29:05
I think if I pronounce her her name right, Doreen.
29:08
Yeah.
29:08
So, yeah, I think it's, uh, really important to have the, you know,
29:12
the whole industry, uh, who's like working toward the, the drivers and
29:17
uh, and sponsors also getting in.
29:20
So when you got really small, uh.
29:23
Industry of racing in your country.
29:25
It's really hard to get sponsors.
29:26
It's really hard to get into racing actually, because, uh, like it's not
29:32
working that well, as in, for example, in the United States, uh, where we
29:36
know that industry is working pretty well and, uh, drivers getting small
29:42
sponsors and it's actually overall working, uh, pretty, pretty well.
29:49
Um, um, so yeah, it's really complicated, uh, but it's good to see that, uh,
29:55
racing, develop and, uh, starting to grow every day in small countries as well.
30:02
Like not really small, but small in, uh, in racing industry.
30:06
Yeah.
30:06
Uh, because racing is.
30:09
Not really, uh, popular, uh, like in India or in Kazakhstan, but
30:13
it's, uh, cool to see that it's, uh, eventually growing And, um, yeah,
30:19
that, that's really cool, uh, to see.
30:21
Definitely.
30:23
So I, I think that's, uh.
30:26
In the future.
30:27
So perfect world, uh, where in every country we'll have a racing, which is,
30:33
uh, like, uh, good business for everybody and, uh, uh, nice sport to get in.
30:40
Uh, and, uh, but yeah, that's just a dream.
30:43
And all these people, which we, we got right now, um.
30:48
All guests, which we got on the need talks.
30:50
Uh, they, uh, trying to, um, you know, invest into this step to, um,
30:58
make, uh, their country closer to be in, in, in big worlds of the racing.
31:05
And actually it's really, really cool.
31:09
Uh, one day that, that's my, my dream that, uh, we'll have in each
31:14
country, uh, the racing, which, uh, e equal to, uh, racing, uh, how it's
31:19
working in United States because, uh, uh, they got the big show with it.
31:24
They got little sponsors who support like.
31:27
Even, uh, drivers who taken part in last position, uh, in championship.
31:32
And it's really cool to see how it's working actually.
31:36
And, um, hopefully, yeah, in one, one day, uh, in like in India or in
31:41
Kazakhstan and other countries, we'll see.
31:44
Um.
31:45
You know, more people into racing and more sponsors also getting
31:48
into it and just, uh, having fun.
31:51
Um, so yeah, actually from your yourself, how do you see the
31:56
future of Indian Motor Sports?
31:58
Would you like to see someone from India taking part in formal one or maybe
32:03
in, uh, other, uh, big championships?
32:06
Uh, so how do you see it from yourself?
32:09
Yeah.
32:09
As far as the Euro, um, it goes, I think, uh, from India right now we have, in the
32:15
rallying field, we have, uh, s gi who has been representing India and the WRC.
32:23
Uh, I think he hasn't done the whole season as yet again, maybe
32:28
because due to sponsors, you know, but he has been getting help.
32:32
So he has been attending like, maybe a few rounds of the INRC last year or prior
32:38
to that, I think 2023 or 24, uh, is when he, uh, actually took part in the WRC.
32:45
He is actually one of India's top best drivers.
32:48
Mm-hmm.
32:48
Um.
32:50
So, uh, you know, it's lovely to see him there because that inspires us.
32:55
And, uh, also, uh, like we have other drivers like, uh, um,
33:00
I think his name is, uh, Han.
33:03
Uh, no, sorry.
33:04
Uh, what is his name?
33:05
Yeah, I think Johan something is there.
33:07
I forgot his name.
33:08
Then, uh, there's, uh, Kush.
33:10
Uh, so these are a few drivers, engine drivers that I've gotten so far as being
33:16
male, you know, so it would be lovely to see also a female engine driver.
33:21
Mm-hmm.
33:21
Uh, you know, doing one of these, um, uh, even of these, um, disciplines of either
33:28
rallying or uh, you know, um, formula.
33:33
So for us to get there, I think, uh, we would need a lot of,
33:36
uh, help with the sponsorship.
33:39
Mm-hmm.
33:39
So, and the fact that, you know, uh, we haven't accepted India as,
33:44
uh, I mean most of the Indian, uh.
33:48
Uh, sponsors probably haven't really looked into, uh, motorist
33:52
sports, uh, that, you know, looked into it that well to invest in it.
33:57
But yeah, slowly and surely we are coming up slowly and surely we are having,
34:01
uh, people who are interested in it.
34:03
So I just hope like five years down the line, we have like, you know, um,
34:09
a few female drivers, uh, out there, uh, you know, representing India.
34:15
Uh, hopefully that will be you.
34:17
Uh, so we'll be happy to see you on international scene.
34:22
Yeah.
34:23
Yeah.
34:24
And, uh, the last one, uh, I think I'm hoping so too.
34:29
I mean, uh, yeah, hopefully, uh, we'll see you on international scene,
34:34
uh, representing India one day.
34:38
Hopefully one day, one fine day.
34:43
Okay.
34:44
And uh, the last one, what advice can you give to Yes, girls, boys who would
34:49
like to take a part, uh, in racing, uh, all over the world and from India?
34:55
Uh, particularly.
34:56
So basically, um, you know, if you have that dream, I think,
35:00
um, now we live in a world where.
35:03
You know, it's not like before, before we have to, if our parents say, know
35:06
this is what we have to do because it's good for you, we tend to always,
35:10
uh, you know, follow that step, right?
35:13
Mm-hmm.
35:14
Uh, I just think that, um, if you do have a dream, uh, relevant of
35:19
its, uh, just racing or anything else, I think you should speak up.
35:23
I think you should tell them of your dream.
35:25
You know, if, if it's, if you wanna be, let's just put the simple
35:27
example of you wanna be a singer.
35:30
Which is something that's related to, you know, the normal, um,
35:33
uh, day-to-day, uh, thoughts of, you know, where you should be.
35:37
Like a doctor or a, or a, or a police officer or a, you know, like, like
35:43
the normal jobs, you know, if you have something like, I wanna be a race
35:47
car driver, or I wanna be a singer, I think you should go, always be able
35:51
to go to your parents and, you know.
35:54
Tell them, this is what I think I'm good at and this is what I wanna do.
35:58
So the same, similar thing with racing.
36:00
I think, um, we should take that step and just inform them, you know, oh,
36:04
hey, I find I have interest in this.
36:06
You never know.
36:07
Your parents might go all out and support you, you know, knowing the fact
36:11
that, uh, you know, this is your dream.
36:13
So I think, uh.
36:16
It should start at a young age where, you know, we should be given also
36:19
that opportunity to speak up or tell what our dreams are to our parents,
36:23
because I think that's the only way where anybody could live their dream.
36:27
Right?
36:27
Uh, until, and unless our parents don't know about our dreams, I
36:31
don't think, uh, you know, we would get anywhere that far because.
36:36
If only they knew, then maybe they'd be supportive.
36:39
I mean, best example is look at Louise Hamilton's, uh, dad.
36:44
So Louise Hamilton's dad was like, you know, very supportive towards
36:47
him since he was a kid, right?
36:49
Mm-hmm.
36:50
And, uh, I think it, that is a good way to go about, because if your parents knows
36:54
what you love, they would give everything.
36:56
Like Louise's dad gave everything, like, you know, for him to become
37:01
a world champion one five day.
37:02
So I think, uh, you know, it should start there.
37:05
Mm-hmm.
37:05
Um, my advice would be don't be scared.
37:08
Go tell your parents what your dreams are.
37:10
In case it turns the other way.
37:12
Like, you know, like for me, like, you know, I wouldn't say my parents
37:15
were against it, but they just needed time to get used to it because
37:18
this is something new to them.
37:20
Maybe, you know, someone would be in the same spot like I was in.
37:23
I, what I would say is find a way, you know, find a way to make
37:27
them get used to the fact that, uh, you know, this is normal.
37:31
You know, uh, at first it might seem impossible, but if you work towards it.
37:35
Find your way, work towards it.
37:37
You know, find a way to tell them, make them familiar with, uh, the
37:41
whole, uh, you know, the whole, um.
37:44
Make them familiar with the whole, uh, plan or the whole dream that you have.
37:48
You know, eventually they'll come around it, anybody will come around it.
37:52
And the, the most important thing is that you believe in yourself.
37:56
Like, you know.
37:57
Mm-hmm.
37:57
Uh, you don't, um, you know, doubt yourself.
38:01
Even if others around you doubt you.
38:03
You shouldn't doubt yourself.
38:04
I mean, of course I've had my days as well, like when I had
38:07
a lot of people doubting me.
38:09
Some days I would doubt myself as well, right?
38:11
Mm-hmm.
38:12
Uh, but then, um, some days I would also doubt myself.
38:17
Uh, but then these things are normal, you know, I mean, we're human beings.
38:21
There would be days that would be difficult, and of course we would think to
38:24
ourselves like, what am I even doing here?
38:26
Like.
38:27
You know, I got this far, but I don't think I can go further.
38:30
You know, these are things that happen to other individuals.
38:33
Right.
38:34
But I think if those days come, we shouldn't be too hard on ourselves.
38:38
Mm-hmm.
38:38
I think we should let those days pass.
38:41
I think, uh, I've been in days where I'm like, when the pandemic had hit, I
38:45
was like, oh, my recent career is done.
38:47
Like, this is it for me.
38:48
Like I just started, you know, and, uh, this has happened and I think this is it.
38:53
Like, um, you know, this is where it ends.
38:55
I've had days like that too.
38:57
And then once the pandemic was over, I was like, Hey, you know what?
39:00
I could, I can always restart where I left off, right?
39:04
I can always try again.
39:05
I mean, it was starting from the bottom again.
39:09
So then I was like, why not if I've started from the bottom
39:12
before I can do it again, right?
39:14
Mm-hmm.
39:14
So these are things that, uh, you know, you should, um, be able, like your mind
39:19
is a powerful, uh, it's, it's, it is the most powerful thing in your body.
39:23
So I think the more you tell, you convince yourself, the more you train your mind
39:28
that you can do these impossible things, I think it's, you know, you can do it.
39:33
Mm-hmm.
39:33
So, I mean, if you tell your mind that, uh, you know, I'm sick.
39:36
Your body will feel sick.
39:38
Mm-hmm.
39:38
Basically, right?
39:40
Uh, or you say, uh, I'm feeling lazy.
39:42
You know, the moment you think I'm lazy, your whole day is gone.
39:45
You are gonna feel lazy the whole day.
39:46
Mm-hmm.
39:47
So basically the mind is the most powerful thing in your body.
39:49
So if you say, I can do it, basically, uh, you know, even if you can't
39:53
do it today, if you can do it.
39:55
Like five months from now.
39:57
But if you say every day that you can do it and you take every small step you
40:00
are gonna get there eventually, right?
40:02
Mm-hmm.
40:02
So I think, um, this would be my, uh, advice to everybody that, you know, um,
40:07
nothing is good and pretty always, um, now if we look at most of the racing drivers,
40:12
we love where they are at right now.
40:14
But everyone has a story at the end of the day, right?
40:17
Mm-hmm.
40:17
Everyone had come through something to get to where they are right now.
40:21
So what I would say is that, uh, you know, um, if you think that's
40:26
what you want, don't give up.
40:28
Like chase it.
40:28
Even if it seem impossible, I'm sure in between somewhere,
40:31
it's not going to be smooth.
40:33
It's gonna be a rough path.
40:34
Mm-hmm.
40:35
But, uh, you know, uh, don't stop there.
40:37
You know, continue, keep going.
40:39
You know?
40:41
Uh, and eventually if you do not give up on yourself, you're going to get to places
40:45
where you never thought you would be, uh, like the rest of us who have, you know,
40:50
uh, pushed ourselves and come this far.
40:53
Mm-hmm.
40:53
So that would be my, yeah.
40:56
Yeah.
40:57
I, I agree with you.
40:58
Also, it's.
40:59
It's always worse to try.
41:01
Uh, at least.
41:02
Yeah.
41:02
And, uh, maybe you going to get in and, uh, like have good experience if you're
41:08
not going to continue, like at least you.
41:11
Going to have fun.
41:12
Yeah.
41:13
And, uh, just, uh, did what you, uh, what you actually like
41:17
and that, that's great thing.
41:20
Okay.
41:20
So thank you so much for Yes.
41:23
Being with us.
41:23
Uh, yeah, no worries about technical issues.
41:26
It, it is always happened.
41:28
Uh, it's fine.
41:29
And that's part of the stream.
41:30
Yeah, because we, we go on live and it's more harder than, uh,
41:34
record videos and all the stuff.
41:36
So once again, uh, Phoebe, thank you so much.
41:38
Yeah.
41:39
Thank you.
41:39
It was lovely chatting with you.
41:41
Thank you for having patience with my network today.
41:44
And, uh, I hope it, we do stay connected.
41:48
Maybe, you know, once I day I get to come and see you and never know what
41:52
plans you could make for the future.
41:55
Yeah, sure.
41:56
Only when we join hands is when we can.
41:59
Yeah.
41:59
Okay guys, when we join hands is when we can make a better place, right?
42:03
So, uh, one question I have, I have for you though.
42:06
Uh, so you, you do some racing a lot?
42:09
Yes.
42:10
I I'm doing this a lot.
42:11
I'm full-time streamer, uh, the network again,
42:16
so I suggest you to join a racing one day.
42:19
It's really fun.
42:21
Yeah.
42:21
Cool.
42:22
I hope I, I, I hope I'm trying set up myself.
42:25
Yeah, I'm trying to set up a sim myself.
42:27
I've never done sim racing before, so hopefully we can connect then.
42:31
Mm-hmm.
42:31
Maybe we can.
42:32
Yeah.
42:32
Would be awesome.
42:34
Sim racing, I think worse to try because, uh, community is really
42:37
friendly and, uh, helpful all the time.
42:40
Okay.
42:40
Then I guess, um, the network is not allowing us to go further.
42:44
Okay.
42:46
See you.
42:47
Okay guys, thank you so much for watching.
42:49
We'll see you.
42:50
You should stay.
42:50
Thank you.
42:52
Yes, thank you.
42:53
Bye.
43:04
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43:04
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