Alice, Gilbert bury North London rivalry at Superspeed Racing

But that isn’t the case at X1 Racing League side Superspeed Racing Chennai (SRC), which is owned by ace Narain Karthikeyan. Arsenal aficionado Mitchell Gilbert (Malaysia) and Spurs supporter Alice Powell (England) are together on a mission – to rescue their floundering franchise. SRC had just a solitary podium finish (Race 4) in the first leg of the X1 Racing League in Greater Noida last weekend.

Following the debut series of races, SRC has its eyes fixed on an improved showing, according to the international male driver. The team’s participants are expected to set the circuit on fire at the Madras Motor Race Track, the venue for the second and final leg of the inaugural edition.

“After the first race (in the opening leg), I felt comfortable. If I pick up from where I left last weekend, it will be much easier (to get on the podium). This is basically like a home leg for us,” Gilbert, who has come in as a replacement for Chinese Franky Cheng, told DT Next.

“It just took a bit of time to settle in. We weren’t the most competitive side in the Delhi leg, but I don’t know why. We got a few lucky results and finished on the podium once,” said the 25-year-old Malaysian-Australian. Our interaction took place a day after Brighton & Hove Albion thumped Arsenal for the first time at the Emirates, in the Premier League.

And, Gilbert was visibly frustrated with his favourite club. “I follow PL every week. The side is going through a bad period (a nine-match winless run) and I think it will continue probably like this for the rest of the season. Arsenal is one of the biggest clubs in the world but is 10th on the PL table. That is why you love the game (of football),” he revealed.

Oxford-based Alice, a season ticket holder at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, isn’t having the best of times as a fan either. “I have been following the club since childhood. It’s sad that Mauricio Pochettino had to leave. It’s not going too well this season. Hopefully, we will pick up a bit in the coming games and finish in the top four (under Jose Mourinho),” she said.