Ajith Kumar has added another prestigious honour to his long list of achievements; this time, not for cinema, but for his passion for motorsport. The actor has been named Gentleman Driver of the Year 2025, an award presented in Venice, Italy, by the Philippe Charriol Motorsport Group. The recognition has sparked a wave of celebration among fans and the racing community alike.
Sharing the news on Instagram, Ajith's wife and actor 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." The photos featured her alongside Ajith and their family.
On receiving the award, Ajith said that the honour meant a lot for him. "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.
The award comes at a time when Ajith’s motorsport career has been reaching new heights. Through the Ajith Kumar Racing Team, which has been competing internationally since early 2025, he has been representing India in multiple endurance racing categories. His team has already secured two third-place finishes and one second-place win across 24-hour and 12-hour race formats, results that have brought both Tamil Nadu and India significant pride.
Ajith’s dedication to racing has been an open secret for years, but those close to him say his recent achievements were possible because he wrapped up all pending film commitments before fully immersing himself in the sport. By December 2024, he had completed his work on Vidaamuyarchi and Good Bad Ugly, finishing even the dubbing portions in a matter of days to ensure he could give undivided attention to his racing goals.
The Venice honour has been received with tremendous enthusiasm online. Even as the celebrations continue, Ajith is also preparing for his next big-screen venture, AK64, a film with director Adhik Ravichandran. An official announcement on the project is expected soon.