image source, Ajithkumar Racing/X
“Don’t you know how to drive a car?”, a character asks the protagonist in the beginning of the movie. To which the protagonist replies ‘I will drive to some extent’. For this one scene, the theater was rocked by the cheers of Ajith Kumar fans.
Usually in movies with leading Tamil actors, some mass scenes and ‘punch’ lines are included in the script to get claps or cheers from the fans.
But as far as actor Ajith’s movies are concerned, a scene of him driving a car or a bike on screen is enough. It never fails to get applause from the fans.
If Prabhu Deva films are expected to have dance, fans would expect actor Ajith’s film to have scenes of him driving a car or a bike. He also likes to do it in movies.
Billa, Arambam, Mangatha, Know Me, Visvasam, Viveka, Persistence and the list goes on.
The reason is that actor Ajith’s passion for bike and car racing in real life and continuing to indulge in it even after meeting with accidents has given him an identity beyond the movies.
His fans, who were saddened by Lyca’s announcement that the film Vidathila will not be released for Pongal, are now celebrating as actor Ajith Kumar’s team finished third in the 922 Porsche category at the 24-hour car race in Dubai and was awarded the ‘Spirit of the Race’ award.
image source, Ajithkumar Racing/X
Why did Ajith give up bike racing?
“I lost a lot of film opportunities due to the bike racing accident after Amaravati. After focusing on cinema, I couldn’t go for bike racing. I decided not to do bike racing as I could only watch something,” the actor said in a media interview after the release of Billa in 2007. This is Ajith’s answer.
In that interview, actor Ajith, who thought he didn’t want to do bike racing, later went to car racing in 2003.
“At one point my films didn’t do as well as I expected. I felt like doing something I love. This time I took part in car racing. Even though I entered the car racing industry very late at the age of 32, I did my best.” would have said.
He would have said then that there is nothing else close to the satisfaction he gets from car racing, but he will leave it for his fans and focus only on cinema from now on.
In 2002, actor Ajith participated in the Formula Maruti Indian Championship and finished fourth.
image source, FMSCI
Then in the 2003 Formula BMW Asia Championship (Formula BMW Asia) in which he stood 12th. Then the 2004 British Formula 3 National Class (British Formula 3 – National Class) raced and finished 7th.
His coach during that period was Akbar Ibrahim, an ex-formula car racer. Currently he is the President of Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI).
After this, actor Ajith stayed away from car racing for more than six years.
‘No one encouraged me when I was in car racing’
image source, Ajithkumar Racing/X
Meanwhile, in an interview in 2007, he said, “When I was in car racing, no one asked me or encouraged me. After I quit, they asked why I quit. My fans expect good movies from me. I quit racing for them.”
Then in 2010, FIA Formula Two Championship Ajith participated in the (FIA Formula Two Championship) season. The championship season was held in Europe from April 18 to September 19.
Prior to that, he competed in the final round of the MRF racing series in Chennai in February 2010, but failed to finish the race due to mechanical issues.
After almost 15 years, actor Ajith entered the car racing field in 2024 and started a team called ‘Ajithkumar Racing’ to participate in international car racing.
The ‘Ajithkumar Racing Team’ led by actor Ajithkumar has placed 3rd in the Porsche 992 Cup Car (No. 901) race at the ’24H Series’ car race held in Dubai on January 12th.
In the series, Ajith Kumar was awarded the ‘Spirit of the Race’ award for his Porsche Cayman GT4 (No. 414) race.
image source, Chetan
“This ’24H Series’ car race is not like any other car race. It is a race that tests one’s ultimate strength because the victory is decided by which team covers the best distance in 24 hours,” says the Formula 4 car racer, who has raced with prosthetic legs for 18 years. Chetan Korada who is involved.
In this Porsche 992 Cup car (No. 901), Chetan says that leading a team in the race category is only possible if one has the best experience.
Chetan says actor Ajith’s long motorbike trips also helped him prepare for this 24-hour race.
“It’s a big thing for an Indian team to finish 3rd in an international 24-hour race, because you have to lead a team to drive a race car for 24 hours. Not only that, he also raced a Porsche Cayman GT4 (No. 414). His early setbacks were injuries. , have given him the experience he needs.” He says.
Chetan says actor Ajith is a role model for car racers like him, who has made it in his favorite field even at the age of 53.
“In car racing, that too unlike regular racing, only professional car racers can drive for long hours. He has proved that he is not only an actor, but also a good car racer,” says Chetan Korada.
– This is a Collective Newsroom publication for the BBC
