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@Wordsmith
Sreeja V
@Wordsmith · 0:56

North East India’s First woman Formula 4 Racer in conversation.

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So let us talk to Phoebe about her journey so far and how she has also sort of created history by emerging as a fully first woman from Meghala to be selected in the Formula LGB Four team and by finishing the third podium in the 23rd Jktaya National recent Championship held in 2020. Welcome, Phoebe
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@Wordsmith
Sreeja V
@Wordsmith · 0:07

@Dale25

Sophib let me start by asking you how you got interested in formula four racing
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@Dale25
Phoebe Nongrum
@Dale25 · 4:11

@wordsmith

Watching TV and watching the seasons of Formula One and motor GP. That was the only closest way for me to get attached to racing back then, and, of course, for myself alone, to sit in the car and feel good about it and drive normally, like day to day driving just to get myself back from one place to the other. That was the closest I could get to a car or like to feel like good in a car behind the steering wheel
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@Wordsmith
Sreeja V
@Wordsmith · 0:41
That's such a fascinating journey, Phoebe. And I am very, very happy to know that, you know, you were selected among the 60 women race car drivers who came down for this particular team. And I think it's also wonderful that it's just been three years that you have started professionally racing. And it's a phenomenal feat to achieve in a span of two years. Three years. Sorry
@Dale25
Phoebe Nongrum
@Dale25 · 3:56

@wordsmith

And when it came to the part where I had to go racing, of course, my family never stopped me, but support was difficult because for them to accept the fact that I wasn't following the norms of the society or I wasn't following a normal day to day things that everybody would do. Go to school, pass College, get a job. I was picking something which was not a very well known something which is not familiar to my family. And it was difficult
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@Wordsmith
Sreeja V
@Wordsmith · 0:20
Thank you, Phoebe, for sharing this. I think courage of conviction matters the most. The rest will follow. What about bias? Did you have to face bias in this journey? If so, how did you deal with it and what kind of situation support did you receive from your peers, colleagues, others in this particular field
@Dale25
Phoebe Nongrum
@Dale25 · 3:07

@wordsmith

Well, I think when it comes to bias, I think, you know, women face a lot of biasedness anywhere. You know, in today's world, especially the fact that women have come up and, you know, women take, they take a stand nowadays, taking careers that used to look like it's only a man is capable to do so. Women become entrepreneurs. Women have become leaders. Before we broke barriers, it was always like, oh, it's a man's world
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@Wordsmith
Sreeja V
@Wordsmith · 0:25
Yes. I guess I think it's best to stay behind the wheel, you know, and show your mind on the track. I think there's no better, you know, way to get back on that. Now, my next question in this about the circuits that you have done so far, which has been the most memorable experience from that. And also what else is on your bucket list
@Dale25
Phoebe Nongrum
@Dale25 · 2:06

@wordsmith

For me, the most memorable circuit would be, of course, the Curry Motorsports circuit, because it's a circuit where I actually picked my first podium. That also being said that initially the circuit was very different when I started off, but they rebuilt the circuit for the 2020 season and it was a whole different experience for me. It was almost at the level of Formula Three circuit
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@Wordsmith
Sreeja V
@Wordsmith · 0:21
And now to the last question, Phoebe, before I open this out to others who would like to pose any questions. And thank you so much for sharing what you have. I think it's very, very inspiration. So my last question is, is what would be your word of advice for those who like to take the path less trodden
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