Phoebe Dale Nongrum, First Woman Formula 4 Racer from Northeast Eyes to Win Indian National Rally Championship 2025

Hailing from Shillong, Phoebe Dale Nongrum secretly learnt driving under the pretext of playing basketball at the age of 12.

Phoebe Dale Nongrum, the first professional Formula 4 race car driver and the first woman from the region to do so, Phoebe is now setting her sights on conquering the upcoming Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) 2025.

Having narrowly missed victory in the 2024 Indian National Rally Championship by just two seconds, Phoebe is back with renewed determination.

Speaking to Northeast Live, she said, “Last year I drove the whole season of the Indian National Rally Championship 2024, and I was very close to the championship but lost by two seconds. I am back this year to try and conquer that championship again.”

Currently participating in the JK Tyre-powered Indian Racing Festival – A Carnival of Total Control, Phoebe continues to inspire both fans and aspiring racers.

The 10-day event, running from April 12 to 22, aims to promote motorsports culture while boosting JK Tyre’s presence across key Northeastern cities including Kohima, Aizawl, Shillong, Guwahati, and Gangtok.

But Phoebe’s story is not just about speed, it’s a journey shaped by resilience, quiet rebellion, and an unwavering dream.

Who is Phoebe Dale Nongrum?

Born and raised in the misty hills of Shillong, she secretly learnt driving under the pretext of playing basketball at the age of 12. By 14, she was navigating the Guwahati-Shillong highway in a Maruti Gypsy, driven by nothing more than passion and raw instinct.

Her path took a detour when she moved to Bengaluru for higher studies, stepping away from racing for nearly 15 years.

But motorsport had planted a seed too deep to ignore. She returned to the scene first as a volunteer, then as an organiser, and eventually as a competitor. A victory at an autocross event in Shillong reignited her racing career.

In 2019, Phoebe was selected through a national talent hunt by Ahura Racing to be part of India’s first Formula women’s team.

Her entry into professional racing came in 2021 at the 23rd JK Tyre National Racing Championship, where she made an unforgettable debut in the Formula LGB 4 category clinching a podium finish and becoming the first woman from the Northeast to do so.

Racing among 26 seasoned drivers, Phoebe did more than just compete, she represented the unspoken dreams of a region often sidelined in Indian motorsport narratives.

Today, she stands as a symbol of strength and possibility, not just for young girls in the Northeast, but for every dreamer waiting to hit the accelerator.

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