In a densely populated country where motorsport is unpopular amid zero infrastructure or racing track, the journey of Kashfia Arfa in the game is quite remarkable.
She has been an active sportsperson all her life, be it handball, badminton or football.
A long sporting career led to a call-up to the national handball team but in motor racing, it all began this year.
Having attended five Esports competitions followed by a simulator test, she achieved national race license and got selected for Asia Auto Gymkhana Championship and FIA Motorsport Games in Spain.
The debut race in Gymkhana competition at the end of last month put her name in the history book as Bangladesh's first international female racer, certified by FIA.
Kashfia said she has been a racing enthusiast since she was a kid.
"There are very few people who can choose the line they like. I consider myself lucky in that sense," Kashfia told Dhaka Tribune in an interview.
"I'm so fond of motor racing since my childhood. I'm well attracted to cars. I watched movies, played video games, followed Formula 1 racing, GT racing. That's how my journey started off the track," she added.
There is no racing infrastructure in the country but in recent years some Bangladeshis like Avik Anwar started racing on foreign tracks by their own efforts.
Avik also brought some unprecedented laurels for his country at different international racing competitions.
When asked about her motivation behind choosing motorsport despite the absence of racing venues, Kashfia replied that she got inspired seeing Avik conquer all odds.
"Avik is the inspiration behind my racing craze. Despite having no racing tracks in Bangladesh if he can be so successful, why can’t I?" said the 20-year old.
For the debut race at AAGC, Automobile Association of Bangladesh gave Kashfia a clear mission: to drive cleanly and gain some useful experience.
It was a difficult start in the female solo event, Bangladesh's first at a FIA international meet.
But she overcame it on the second lap.
One of the tough challenges was getting straight into competitive race for the first time with left steering wheel as she was used to drive right hand in Bangladesh.
"If I had gotten proper practice before, I could have done a lot more better or maybe even a podium!" Kashfia said.
AAB's director of sport Syed Ahrarul Hossain was full of praise.
He told Dhaka Tribune: "She was one of the few competitors, male or female, not to get any time penalties, thanks to her clean driving. She also showed some flair and great determination to rise to the occasion."
Kashfia described the competition as a practice race ahead of the FIA Motorsport Games later this month, and took no pressure upon herself.
"There was really no burden of expectation on me as the first official and unofficial race of a newbie, but I really appreciate the love and admiration I got for my accomplishments," she said.
Kashfia credited her family members for their support in helping pursue her dream.
"This is not my journey to begin with, it’s both my mom’s and mine. She and my sister have been supporting all my dreams since my childhood, I never had to suppress my goals because of them," she said.
In Vietnam's race, Kashfia drove BYD seal electric car, while in Dhaka, Lexus IS350 is her companion. What's her favorite?
"To be honest I can’t differentiate any car as my favorite as I always see the cars I drive as part of myself, the reflection of my dreams so all of them are equally important to me," she replied.
Kashfia knows where she wants to see herself in racing world in the coming days.
She said: "My main goal is to represent my country in front of the world, this is not my personal achievement but I see this as an achievement for my people. I always had this urge to be the best at whatever I do, be it any kind of sports, so I think both of these drive me towards my vision."
ALSO READ: Part 1: Kashfia Arfa, Bangladesh's first woman to race abroad
