Interview: How Pavan Ravishankar got back in Motorsports


While I was walking around the paddock, the day after my interview with Kabir Anurag, I came across his manager, BRDC British Formula 3 race winner, Pavan Ravishankar and I got the chance to interview him too.

MA: How has this year been so far [managing Anurag]?

PR: "I think It's been a learning year for him." 

"This is his first full season in anything, so we're just kind of learning the ropes and everything, so It's been a big learning year and hopefully we'll be here again next year to do a better job".


Anurag currently drives for US Racing in Italian F4 and Euro 4 Championships | Credit: Team Kabir Anurag

Ravishankar was a driver himself before managing Anurag, racing in Formula Renault Asia, BRDC British Formula 3, MRF Challenge Formula 2000 and the Winter Series of the F3 Asian Championship, winning races in Formula Renault Asia and British Formula 3 and scoring a podium in the Chang round of the F3 Asian Championship Winter Series.

MA: Before being a manager, you raced in BRDC British F3 and other various single seater championships, what got you into motorsports?

PR: "I think It's the same as everybody else, one day my dad took me to a fun karting and it was very fun, so I persuaded him to get me back there a couple more times" Ravishankar explained.

"After that we ended up buying our own kart and starting from there, racing in Asia in go-karts and then ended up racing in Europe [in single-seaters]."


Ravishankar after taking his maiden BRDC British F3 win at Silverstone | Credit: Pavan Ravishankar - Facebook

MA: How was it like representing Singapore in motorsports?

PR: "It was quite cool because, you know, It's a small country with not many drivers from there, but it brings some uniqueness, which is cool but it was also difficult at times because you don't have many people you can relate with, coming from a small country with not a lot of motorsport history" he explained.

"I think it was really cool, and now that motorsport is growing in Singapore, It's much bigger than it was in my time, It's really nice to see."


Ravishankar after winning at Shanghai in Formula Renault Asia | Credit: Pavan Ravishankar - Facebook

MA: After your career [as a driver] ended, you started managing Kabir. What led you to driver management?

PR: "I think It's quite natural, most ex-drivers end up doing some coaching or end up doing management."

"Kabir's family and I met a long time ago and I got thrown back into motorsport world. It wasn't my original intention as I wanted to go back to University, but here I am now and I'm enjoying myself."

"It's quite cool to see some familiar faces and back [working] with teams, petrol and tires."


Anurag testing at the Mugello Circuit | Credit: Team Kabir Anurag

MA: What's next for Kabir Anurag?

PR: "I think we'll probably be back here, next year, in F4 and we'll see where it takes us and we're not gonna rush things, we'll take our time and do a good job."


Anurag at the Red Bull Ring for the second round of the 2024 Euro 4 Championship | Credit: ACI Sport


Header image credit: GB3 Championship - Facebook

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