From go-karts to F1 dreams: Sophia Zara is the future of racing

MALAYSIANSKINI | At just 15, Sophia Zara Mustaffa Kamal is rewriting the rules of speed by steering through barriers in the track racing scene, with a message that the track is no longer just a men’s arena.

Sophia is no stranger to the sweltering heat of the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) paddock, where she has spent her formative years reviewing race data beside her father and fellow racer, Shafiq Samsudin, as well as her mother and team manager, Shasha Shafie.

An exhilarating go-kart ride with her mother when Sophia was just five would turn out to be the moment when the young racer discovered her love for the track.

“I fell in love with it. The sounds, the rush, even the smell of the track - it all just felt right,” she recalled when speaking with Malaysiakini recently.

What began as a playful introduction quickly grew into a passion. By the time most children would still be learning to ride bicycles, Sophia was suiting up and clocking laps at karting circuits, chasing seconds and something far bigger - a future in motorsports.

She would go on to achieve multiple podium finishes in various local and international karting championships, including the Kart Racing and Development Championship, the IAME X30 Championship, and the Asia Rotax Max Championship.

By 12, Sophia swapped karts for cars, though she only began racing cars last year due to licensing rules.

But being the youngest on track was no reason for Sophia to pump the brakes - in fact, she overcame rejection for a spot in the 2025 Toyota Gazoo Racing rookie category.

“She was rejected because of her age. (Toyota) wanted to only take her in (as a rookie) the following year, but I said no (because) why should we waste any time?” recounted Shasha.

“In the rookie programme, she would have gone against four other drivers. We moved her up one category, where she raced against 19 others, and she managed to secure 8th place,” Shasha said while a cheery Sophia chimed in that the race was “much more fun”.

Sophia’s grit was also evident during the 2024 Sepang 1,000km Endurance Race, where she and her team secured a fifth-place finish. The success resulted in her being recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as the youngest female podium finisher in an endurance race.

“Endurance races are difficult, but fun. (Long races) aren’t very tiring for me, but that’s probably because I’m still young,” quipped Sophia, who turns 16 in August.

Breaking barriers on and off the track

Despite her numerous accolades, Sophia is no stranger to prejudice in the male-dominated motorsport community.

Biases reflecting deeper resistance to gender inclusion in racing are commonly expressed in criticism against the F1 Academy - a women-only series aimed at nurturing female talent.

“Just like F1, the F1 Academy is still racing. It’s a good way to break stereotypes and show that while there are a lot of guys (in the motorsports scene), you shouldn’t bring others down.

“You never know - the girls might be better than you,” she said, adding that she admires 2024 F1 Academy drivers’ champion Abbi Pulling, who dominated the season with a 121-point lead.

Hoping to follow in those footsteps, Sophia is now preparing to compete in the F4 Indian Championship - a crucial step in gaining the formula car experience required for her bid to secure the F1 Academy wildcard entry in Singapore this October.

If successful, she will represent Southeast Asia as the region’s sole candidate.

Off the track, Sophia is no less driven - balancing a strong academic performance with a medal-winning fencing career, the highlight of which saw her securing a gold and a bronze medal for Perlis in 2022.

“I’m used to balancing my activities. If it’s a race weekend and I know I won’t have much time to study for classes, I’ll revise in advance or bring my books to do my homework in Sepang,” she said.

Sophia may be young, but her vision for the future is clear. She hopes to study mechanical engineering - not just as a backup plan, but as a way to stay connected to the sport she loves, even if she’s not always behind the wheel.

Family fuelled, self-funded, high stakes

The teenager’s journey into motorsport could perhaps be described as a natural progression - her parents met through racing and have remained immersed in the sport ever since.

For a family bound by racing, the track is a familiar environment - but when it’s your child behind the wheel, every corner, every lap, and every risk hits closer to home.

Even with the years of experience Sophia’s parents have on the track, watching their daughter race brings a different kind of tension.

“When she’s driving, you still feel the nerves. It might just be 20 laps, but it feels very long for us,” said her father, Shafiq.

Despite the safety measures built into the sport, he admits the fear never fully fades, especially when imagining worst-case scenarios.

The emotional stakes aren’t the only ones they carry. Like many families in motorsport, Sophia’s parents also shoulder the financial demands of the sport, which can be just as intense as the races themselves.

From equipment to entry fees and travel, each series can cost upwards of RM200,000 - sometimes even double that, depending on the competition.

At the moment, Sophia receives some financial support from SIC, the Youth and Sports Ministry, and through her ambassador partnership with Sama-Sama Hotel.

However, the family still faces budget challenges as Sophia’s path in motorsport has been largely self-funded.

“Financially, having more sponsors would be better, as it’s still quite taxing. We’re mostly self‑funded up to now… sponsorships help, but it doesn’t cover all our costs,” Shasha said.

Still, for Sophia and her family, the focus remains on the bigger picture - gaining experience, building momentum, and proving that talent can break through even in a sport often dominated by privilege and tradition.

With the F4 India rounds just ahead and a potential wildcard seat in F1 Academy on the horizon, Sophia remains grounded and unwavering in her resolve - each race is a lesson, each setback a reason to push harder.

For now, her foot is on the pedal, eyes on the apex - and her sights set far beyond the finish line.

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