TVS Racing signs Shreya Iyer, its first female factory rider

Ahead of this weekend's opening round of the Two-wheel Indian National Rally Championship (2W INRC) in Bengaluru, TVS Racing - the factory racing division of TVS Motor, and the manufacturer with the longest running participation in Indian motorsport - has signed its first ever female rider in 24-year-old Shreya Sunder Iyer.

Iyer's participation in the opening round of the 2W INRC will be her first competitive motorsport outing ever. Her riding experience includes extensive off-road riding in India as well as Dubai but it has been as an enthusiast to go with her career as a freelance designer.

TVS Racing's Arvind Padgaonkar stated that Iyer's inclusion in the squad on board a rally-prepped RTR 200, that also includes Aravind KP competing on the RTR 450 (essentially a Sherco bike), was on the basis of her riding experience as well as part of the company's initiative to increase women's participation in motorsport in India.

"There is circuit racing in India too," said Padgaonkar to reporters. "But we feel that rallying is best suited for women's participation."

Iyer did not rule out joining the TVS Racing squad at cross-country rally events like the Raid de Himalaya as well as trying her hand at circuit racing too.