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Shalini Ajith Kumar had posted a picture announcing the win on her Instagram handle
Shalini Ajith Kumar, wife of Tamil superstar and racing driver Ajith Kumar, posted a photo on her Instagram handle, announcing that her husband had won an award or becoming the Gentleman Driver Of The Year of 2025, presented in Italy, by the Philippe Charriol Motorsport Group.
Along with two pictures at the event, Shalini wrote, “Honoured to stand beside my husband in Venice, as he is being awarded "Gentleman Driver of the Year 2025 "in honour of entrepreneur and racing driver, the late Philippe Charriol.”
On collecting the Honour, Ajith is reported to have said, “I’d like to take this moment to remember Mr Philippe Charriol. I've heard so many nice things about Mr Charriol, that he was very kind and a wonderful person. I heard that he inspired all those he came across in his life. My experience in the motorsport world has been exciting, challenging, and a pleasure,” he added.
In an exclusive interview earlier with THR India, Ajith had spoken up about the risks of racing. For him racing isn’t about speed as much as it is about awareness. He speaks of danger with calmness and perspective. “When I crash, I try to understand if I have been hurt. That’s my immediate response. How bad am I hurt, how bad the car is, and if I can restart...” he says.
Earlier this year in Valencia, his car flipped several times during the Southern European Cup. He remembers the sequence clearly. “Once you make sure you are okay and the car is okay, your adrenaline kicks in. The only thought is not wanting a DNF. I just think, ‘I want to finish (the race) today.” Then there’s the worry that comes later, the one that lingers. “You are worried for your family. It’s not fair on our part to be putting them through so much stress. Unfortunately, I have had some terrible crashes, but so have other drivers. It’s just that I am an actor, so it makes headlines.”