In Kerala, where society still marvels at women and girls driving bikes, buses and lorries, a 25-year-old woman from Kozhikode is shattering stereotypes. Salva Marjan, a native of Perambra, is on the verge of making history as the first Formula One racer from Kerala. She is gearing up to compete in the prestigious Formula One race organized by the FIA, the world’s governing body for motorsports, in January 2025.
Salva's fascination with racing began in her childhood as she watched Formula 1 drivers speed through tracks on TV and in movies, amazed by their speed and control. Now, she is set to turn her long-held dream into reality.
Salva’s racing journey began in 2018 with the entry-level Formula LGB series. Her impressive performances propelled her to the F4 Indian Championship in 2023. That same year, she also competed in the F4 UAE Championship, successfully completing 119 out of 150 laps.
Recently, Salva moved to the UAE to pursue more opportunities and advanced training. Her focus is now firmly on the F1 Academy competition.
Salva's path to her dreams has been fraught with challenges, particularly the high costs associated with F4 training. A business management graduate, she juggled various jobs, including business ventures, to save money for her passion. Throughout this journey, her family—father Chembra Panachingal Kunjamu, mother Zubaidah and siblings Sahla, Sinan and Sabith—provided support. Despite facing criticism from their conservative community for allowing a young woman to pursue such an unconventional path, her family stood firmly by her side.
Salva acknowledges that the challenges women face in a male-dominated sport like racing are significant. The sport is physically demanding, with temperatures inside the car often rising to 40 degrees Celsius and braking pressures during turns reaching between 60 to 100 kilograms. She revealed that competitors can lose up to four kilograms of body weight in a single race. Despite experiencing crashes, spins and disappointing performances, Salva remains undeterred in her pursuit of her dream.
Today, Salva Marjan is a brand ambassador for Next Level Racing. Her ultimate goal is to represent India in Formula 1 and she hopes to inspire a new generation of women in Kerala to pursue motorsports and break down barriers in the field.