Mahfuzur Rahman Tushar, the first Bangladeshi to participate in the Formula competition, finished 11th in the first round of the Formula four in Chennai and due to a shortage of funds, the 24-year-old driver may not be able to take part in the second round.
The race was held at the Kari Motor Speedway in Chennai, India between July 19-21 and Tushar, who qualified for the fourth level of the Formula series last year, drove for Madras Motor Sports Club and competed against 22 others from India and England.
Tushar did enough to qualify for the second round which will begin in August but the Bangladeshi racer is now short of funds and seeking sponsorship. "I hardly managed Tk300,000 to take part in the first round but now I need Tk150,000 in sponsorship money for the second round. I don't know where I could get the money," said Tushar.
Despite qualifying for the Formula four, Tushar could not participate in the race last year due to shortage of funds. "I raised my own fund from family and friends for the first round. But now the major problem is Tk150,000. No sponsors yet. The amount is too much for me but not for the sponsors. So if anyone comes forward to make my dream true, I can assure I will fight till the end to bring glory for the country," said the racer.
"Same problem happened to everyone at the beginning, financial problem is always there. Same thing happened to me. But everything will be alright soon," he added hopefully.