Indian Motorsports

A strong Italian F4 weekend for Akshay Bohra and Dion Gowda

Akshay Bohra and Dion Gowda end Round 2 of the Italian F4 Championship with a double podium finish in Race 1 and Race 2.

Published

4 weeks ago

June 3, 2024

Aman Adusumilli

acisport.it / Italian F4 Championship

Qualifying 1

Hiyu Yamakoshi took pole position in the first qualifying session of the Imola weekend ahead of Freddie Slater and Akshay Bohra, becoming the first Japanese driver to do so in the Italian F4 championship. Dion Gowda also showed a strong qualifying pace by setting a time good enough for the second row alongside Akshay Bohra.

Race 1

In the first lap of the race, multiple contacts were made, causing multiple drivers to retire from the race and the Safety car was out. On the safety car restart, Freddie Slater who had dominated round 1 in Misano, jumped from P2 to take the lead, overtaking poleman Yamakoshi. From there, Slater controlled the race until the end ahead of Hiyu Yamakoshi and Akshay. Unfortunately for Freddie Slater, He was excluded from the race which handed the victory to Hiyu Yamakoshi, Akkshay Bohra was promoted to P2, and Dion Gowda was promoted on the final step of the podium. However, Freddie has appealed the decision that excluded him from Race 1.

Race 2

The second race of the weekend saw Hiyu Yamakoshi, who started on pole position and successfully converted it into a race win and also took the lead in the championship. Australian driver Jack Beeton, who started from P2, initially held his position but was overtaken by his teammate Akshay Bohra. Bohra secured P2, matching his result from the previous day, until the end. The overtaking maneuver was highly spectacular, with Beeton ending up in the gravel but skillfully managing to stay in the race. However, Beeton, in third place, was targeted by Freddie Slater, who engaged in a fierce battle. A contact between the two at Tosa in the final stages once again shook up the race standings. Dion Gowda ultimately crossed the finish line in third. Gowda, incredibly fast throughout the whole weekend, drove an impeccable race, starting from the seventh spot on the grid to secure his second podium of the season.

Qualifying 2

In the second qualifying session, Yamakoshi put on a show by stringing together perfect laps that earned him the remaining two pole positions available. The Japanese driver, with 1’44.831, was the only driver to lap under 1 minute and 45 seconds. Over 3 tenths separated him from P2, Australian Beeton with a gap of 0.346, who will join him on the front row. Third was Akshay Bohra, with a gap of 0.353 (only 7 thousandths from Beeton), in a qualifying session that, apart from Yamakoshi’s exceptional performance, saw all the other drivers vying for positions by mere thousandths. P4 went to Alex Powell with a gap of 0.364, followed by teammate Slater at 0.381. Sixth was US Racing’s Australian Gianmarco Pradel with a gap of 0.436, followed by Gowda at 0.443.

The grid for Race 3 was thus decided by the second-best time set by the drivers over the two sessions. Once again, the advantage was taken once again by Yamakoshi, who lapped at 1’45.125 in the second qualifying session. He will again be joined on the front row by Beeton at 0.077. Starting behind them will be Freddie Slater at 0.094 and Rehm at 0.219. Fifth place went to Nakamura Berta with a gap of 0.236, followed by Powell at 0.237, then Bohra at 0.253. The eighth-best second lap was set by Stolcermanis at 0.262, followed by Francot at 0.314, while Ferreira rounded out the top 10 with 0.349.

Race 3

The final race of Round 2 of the Italian F4 Championship had a threat of heavy rain which prompted Race Control to declare it a ‘wet race’ in advance, Thankfully the track was dry come Sunday afternoon. Race 3 saw the return of Freddie Slater on the top step of the podium after the race leader Hiyu Yamakoshi who led for the majority of the race, damaged his front wing in Variante Alta with just 2 laps to go and was shown the ‘Black and orange’, forcing him to pit and drop down to P27. Jack Beeton finished in P2 ahead of Maxim Rehm who took the final spot on the podium. Akshay Bohra finished the race in P5 after finishing twice on the podium in P2 during the weekend, and ended with a haul of 46 points, securing third place in the drivers’ standings. Although Dion Gowda narrowly missed out on a points finish after finishing P11, He was promoted to P10 after the Dutch driver Reno Francot was penalized for his incident with Rashid Al Dhaheri.

Championship Standings

Freddie Slater has regained the championship lead after Hiyu Yamakoshi failed to achieve a points finish in the final race of the weekend and now dropped to P2 in the standings. After a consistent Round 1 and a strong Round 2 for Akshay Bohra, he now sits P3 in the standing, 27 points a drift from the leader. Thanks to a strong round 2 weekend for Dion Gowda, He is currently P6 in the championship with 38 points.

Up Next:

The Italian F4 Championship will head to Vallelunga Circuit on 14–16 June for Round 3 of the championship

Indian Motorsports

Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 kicks off in Chennai

Round 1 of MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship kicked off in Madras International Circuit.

Published

2 weeks ago

June 17, 2024

Anuj Tripathi

The Madras International Circuit buzzed with excitement as the first round of the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 unfolded over the weekend.

Qualifying Highlights

On Friday, teenagers Sarthak Chavan from Pune and Chiranth Vishwanath from Bengaluru dominated the Pro-Stock 301-400cc category. The two 17-year-olds, representing TVS Racing, claimed the top two positions, with Chavan setting a pole time of 1:51.688. Gusto Racing India’s Sairahil Pillarisetty from Hyderabad followed closely behind. Chavan also secured pole position in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open category, indicating his potential for a double victory.

Sarthak Chavan of TVS Racing (Image: Anand Philar)

Equally noteworthy was the performance of 17-year-old Abdul Basim from Chennai, who claimed pole in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category. Former National champion Ann Jennifer led the Girls (Stock 165cc) category. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan from Chennai topped the Stock 301-400cc (Novice) category.

Abdul Basim who qualified on Pole in Novice category (Image: Anand Philar)

In the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup, Mallapuram’s Mohsin Paramban, 22, secured pole position in the NSF 250R category. He narrowly edged out 15-year-old Rakshith S Dave from Chennai, with Shyam Sundar also from Chennai, rounding out the top three. Mohsin’s hot lap of 01:51.187 was just ahead of Rakshith’s 01:51.218, while Shyam posted a time of 01:71.708.

The TVS Racing One-Make Championship saw Chennai’s Manoj Yesuadian setting the pace in the Open (RR 310) class qualifying session. Followed closely by Senthil Kumar from Coimbatore and Ajai Xavier M from Nagercoil. In the Rookie (Under-23) (Apache RTR 200) category, Tirupati’s CS Kedarnath topped the qualifying session. Bengaluru’s Harshith V Bogar and Thrissur’s Saranjith KM completed the front row.

Mumbai’s Sarah Khan concluded the day by comfortably securing pole position in the Girls (Apache RTR 200) class, finishing 2.4 seconds ahead of Pune’s Saimah Ajaz Baig. Coimbatore’s Aisvarya V trailed by three seconds.

Race Day Triumphs

Saturday’s races saw the spotlight on the Dave twins from Chennai. Rakshith Dave, 15, triumphed in the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (NSF 250R) race, while his sister Rakshitha secured her maiden win in the Girls (Stock 165cc) category. Another set of siblings, KY Ahamed and Abdul Basim, also from Chennai, each won a race in their respective categories.

Rakshitha Dave and Rakshith Dave (Image: Anand Philar)

In the premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc race, Sarthak Chavan continued his excellent form by leading a 1-2 finish for TVS Racing alongside Chiranth Vishwanath. Despite a red flag that shortened the race to four laps, Sarthak maintained his composure and crossed the finish line first. However, in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open race, he faced a setback, crashing out while leading. KY Ahamed took advantage and claimed victory in a tight finish ahead of his TVS Racing teammate, Jagan Kumar.

Also finishing on the top step of the podium was Chennai’s Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate), who won the Novice 301-400cc class. The class gained National championship status this season.

Earlier, pole-sitter Abdul Basim held off a strong challenge from Mysuru’s Tasmai Cariappa (Motul Sparks Racing), who led briefly in the penultimate lap but conceded the advantage. Basim went on to win, with Tasmai and Coimbatore’s Abhinav G (Chandra LGE Racing) finishing second and third, respectively.

KY Ahamed (33) edging out Jagan Kumar to win the Pro-Stock 165cc Open race (Image Anand Philar)

Rakshitha Dave, starting from P2, moved in front by Turn-2, deftly avoiding any jostling behind her, and enjoyed a trouble-free run for a commanding win. Another Chennai rider, Jagathishee Kumaresan (One Racing), and Ryhana Bee (Motul Sparks Racing) settled for second and third spots, respectively, while pole-sitter Ann Jennifer (Alpha Racing) came in a disappointing fourth.

“I am very happy to score my first-ever win in the National championship. I had a good start today and a trouble-free run after going into the lead early in the first lap. The bike too performed very well,” said a delighted Rakshitha.

In the TVS One-Make Championship Coimbatore’s Senthilkumar C took the honours in the truncated Open (Apache RR 310) race that was reduced to three laps from six due to a red flag stoppage following an on-track incident. Jayanth Pratipathi (Chennai) came in second, ahead of Nagercoil’s Ajai Xavier M.

Harshith V Bogar from Bengaluru notched a dominating win in the Rookie category with second-placed Saranjith KM (Thrissur) finishing some 10 seconds behind. Vijayawada’s Akarsh Jangam was a distant third.

Mumbai’s Sarah Khan won the Girls (RTR 200) race untroubled by Pune’s Saimah Ajaz Baig and Aisvarya V (Coimbatore).

On Sunday, teenagers Sarthak Chavan, Rakshitha Dave, Abdul Basim, and Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan each clinched double victories in their respective categories.

Seventeen-year-old Sarthak Chavan from Pune established himself as the frontrunner in the premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open class, winning both races in commanding fashion. Despite a strong challenge from fellow 17-year-old Chiranth Vishwanath of Bengaluru, who secured second place in both races, Sarthak’s pace proved unbeatable. The duo’s performance left the rest of the field competing for the remaining podium spot.

In the Pro-Stock 165cc category, Sarthak experienced a setback when a collision with Chiranth while battling for the lead caused him to crash. Although both riders rejoined the race, veteran TVS Racing teammates Jagan Kumar, KY Ahamed, and Deepak Ravikumar capitalized on the opportunity to finish in that order. This marked Jagan’s first win of the season after a challenging 2023.

Jagan Kumar (center), winner of the Pro-Stock 165cc Open race, flanked by KY Ahamed (left) and Deepak Ravikumar. (Image: Anand Philer)

Chennai schoolgirl Rakshitha Dave, at just 15 years old, delivered a flawless performance in the Girls (Stock 165cc) category. Following her victory in Race-1 on Saturday, Rakshitha secured an unchallenged win in Race-2, further establishing her dominance in the field.

Another standout performer from Chennai, Abdul Basim of Rockers Racing, achieved a clean sweep in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category. Abdul won Race-2 with ease, mirroring his performance in Saturday’s race, and showcasing his consistent form and skill.

Chennai’s Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan also notched a double victory in the Stock 301-400cc (Novice) class, leading from pole position in both races and demonstrating his racing prowess.

The Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup saw an impressive ride from Shyam Sundar of Chennai, who won the NSF 250R race after starting from P4 on the grid. Shyam skillfully navigated through the front-runners to secure victory, with Mallappuram’s Mohsin Paramban finishing second and Saturday’s winner, Rakshith Dave from Chennai, taking third.

The TVS One-Make Championship witnessed a stellar performance from Senthilkumar C of Coimbatore. He won both races in the Apache RR 310 category, continuing his relentless pace from Race-1 on Saturday to top Race-2, ahead of Chennai riders Manoj Yesuadian and Jayanth P.

Bengaluru’s Harshith V Bogar continued his dominance in the Rookie category, winning Race 2 after his triumph on Saturday. Tirupati’s CS Kedarnath took second place, while Saranjith KM from Thrissur finished third, completing the podium.

Earlier in the weekend, Sarthak Chavan comfortably topped the TVS Electric RTE race, with his rival Chiranth Vishwanath finishing second and Chennai’s Alwyn Sundar taking third.

Results from the weekend

Friday Qualifying results (Top 3, best laps):

National Championship – Pro-stock 301-400cc Open: 1. Sarthak Chavan (Pune, TVS Racing) (01min, 51.688secs); 2. Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru, TVS Racing) (01:52.581); 3. Sairahil Pillarisetty (Hyderabad, Gusto Racing India) (01:52.994).

Pro-Stock 165cc Open: 1. Sarthak Chavan (01:56.772); 2. Chiranth Vishwanath (01:58.251); 3. Deepak Ravikumar (Chennai, TVS Racing) (01:58.463).

Novice – Stock 165cc: 1. Abdul Basim S (Chennai, Rockers Racing) (02:08.076); 2. Tasmai Cariappa (Mysuru, Motul Sparks Racing) (02:09.417); 3. Abhinav G (Coimbatore, Chandra LGE Racing team) (02:10.686).

Girls (Stock 165cc): 1. Ann Jennifer AS (Chennai, Alpha Racing India) (02:10.201); 2. Rakshitha Dave (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (02:10.381); 3. Jagathishree Kumaresan (Chennai, One Racing) (02: 10.799).

Novice – Stock 301-400cc: 1. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (02:02.320); 2. Rohit Lad (Bengaluru, Mad Rabbit Racing) (02:02.668); 3. Lokesh V (Bengaluru, Pvt) (02:03.583).

Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (NSF 250R Open): 1. Mohsin Paramban (Mallapuram) (01:51.187); 2. Rakshith S Dave (Chennai) 01:51.218); 3. Shyam Sundar (Chennai) (01:51.708).

TVS One-Make Championship – Open (Apache RR 310): 1. Manoj Yesuadian (Chennai) (01:56.672); 2. Senthil Kumar C (Coimbatore) (01:57.289); 3. Ajai Xavier M (Nagercoil) (01:58.785).

Rookie (Apache RTR 200): 1. CS Kedarnath (Tirupati) (02:11.108); 2. Harshith V Bogar (Bengaluru) (02:11.845); 3. Saranjith KM (Thrissur) (02:15.956).

Girls (Apache RTR 200): 1. Sarah Khan (Mumbai) (02:13.314); 2. Saimah Ajaz Baig (Pune) (02:15.771); 3. Aisvarya V (Coimbatore) (02:16.388).

Saturday results (Provisional, all 6 laps unless mentioned):

National Championship – Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open (Race-1, 4 laps): 1. Sarthak Chavan (Pune, TVS Racing) (7mins, 36.007secs); 2. Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru, TVS Racing) (07:39.254); 3. Sairahil Pillarisetty (Hyderabad, Gusto Racing India) (07:41.470).

Pro-Stock 165cc Open (Race-1): 1. Ahamed KY (Chennai, TVS Racing) (12:04.178); 2. Jagan Kumar (Chennai, TVS Racing) (12:04.192); 3. Deepak Ravikumar (Chennai, TVS Racing) (12:14.569).

Novice (Stock 165cc) Race-1: 1. Abdul Basim RS (Chennai, Rockers Racing) (12:55.808); 2. Tasmai Cariappa (Mysuru, Motul Sparks Racing) (12:56.136); 3. Abhinav G (Coimbatore, Chandra LGE Racing team) (13:04.554).

Girls (Stock 165cc) Race-1 (5 laps): 1. Rakshitha Dave (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (10:58.183); 2. Jagathishree Kumaresan (Chennai, One Racing) (11:03.012); 3. Ryhana Bee (Chennai, Motul Sparks Racing) (11:03.150).

Novice (Stock 301-400cc) Race-1: 1. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power 1 Ultimate) (12:17.257); 2. Lokesh V (Bengaluru, Pvt.) (12:23.458); 3. Varun Nanjundegowda (Mysuru, Gusto Racing India) (12:27.927).

Idemitsu Honda India Cup (NSF 250R) Race-1: 1. Rakshith S Dave (Chennai) (11:12.157); 2. Mohsin Paramban (Malappuram) (11:16.226); 3. AS James (Bengaluru) (11:16.669)

TVS One-Make Championship – Open (Apache RR 310) Race-1 (3 laps): 1. Senthilkumar C (Coimbatore) (05:56.457); 2. Jayanth Pratipathi (Chennai) (05:59.277); 3. Ajai Xavier (Nagercoil) (06:02.953).

Rookie (Apache RTR 200) Race-1: 1. Harshith V Bogar (Bengaluru) (13:43.666); 2. Saranjith KM (Thrissur) (13:53.770); 3. Akarsh Jangam (Vijayawada) (14:07.100).

Girls (Apache RTR 200) Race-1 (5 laps): 1. Sarah Khan (Mumbai) (11:19.075); 2. Saimah Ajaz Baig (Pune) (11:21.156); 3. Aisvariya V (Coimbatore) (11:23.221).

Sunday results (Provisional, all 6 laps unless mentioned):

Pro-Stock 165cc Open (Race-1): 1. Ahamed KY (Chennai, TVS Racing) (12:04.178); 2. Jagan Kumar (Chennai, TVS Racing) (12:04.192); 3. Deepak Ravikumar (Chennai, TVS Racing) (12:14.569).

Idemitsu Honda India Cup (NSF 250R) Race-1: 1. Rakshith S Dave (Chennai) (11:12.157); 2. Mohsin Paramban (Malappuram) (11:16.226); 3. AS James (Bengaluru) (11:16.669)

Rookie (Apache RTR 200) Race-1: 1. Harshith V Bogar (Bengaluru) (13:43.666); 2. Saranjith KM (Thrissur) (13:53.770); 3. Akarsh Jangam (Vijayawada) (14:07.100).

Girls (Apache RTR 200) Race-1 (5 laps): 1. Sarah Khan (Mumbai) (11:19.075); 2. Saimah Ajaz Baig (Pune) (11:21.156); 3. Aisvariya V (Coimbatore) (11:23.221).

Indian Motorsports

Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 Set to Begin at Madras International Circuit

The Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship kicks Off with 19 Races, Over 100 Riders Set to Compete at Madras International Circuit.

Published

3 weeks ago

June 12, 2024

Anuj Tripathi

The 2024 season of the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship is set to kick off with an electrifying first round at the Madras International Circuit from June 13 to 16. The event promises high-octane action with 19 races lined up and over 100 riders from across India, representing 16 teams.

The championship will feature two prominent Pro-Stock classes: the 301-400cc Open and 165cc Open. These categories will showcase the skills of the country’s top riders on TVS, Honda, Yamaha, and KTM machines, making for a highly competitive and thrilling spectacle.

In addition to the Pro-Stock classes, the championship will also include several novice categories for stock bikes. These include the 165cc (under-23), Girls (165cc), and 301-400cc classes, all of which have attracted a significant number of entries, highlighting the growing interest and talent in the sport.

The event will also feature two One-Make Championships (OMC) organized by the Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC). These include the TVS OMC, which will feature races in the Open, Rookie, Girls, and Media categories, showcasing the RR 310 and Apache RTR 200 bikes. Additionally, the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup will see riders compete on the swift NSF 250R machines, with TVS also hosting a race for their Electric RTE bikes.

Continuing their tradition, both TVS and Honda have conducted trials across India to shortlist riders for their respective categories, with a focus on nurturing young talent. Select riders, based on their performance, have been given the opportunity to compete at the Asian level, further emphasizing the championship’s role as a breeding ground for future stars.

In a significant development, the 301-400cc Novice category has been elevated to National Championship status, underscoring the growing competitiveness and popularity of this class. Additionally, the number of races in the National Championship Girls category has been doubled from five to ten, with a double-header in each of the five rounds, providing more opportunities for female riders to shine.

Ajit Thomas, President of MMSC, expressed his excitement about the upcoming season, stating, “We are extremely pleased to have received well over 100 entries for the two-wheeler National Racing Championship, which will commence this weekend. We extend a warm welcome to the competitors, our long-time sponsors MRF Tyres, the manufacturers, and the media for the 2024 season. We are confident that the championship will deliver its share of wheel-to-wheel racing, given the very competitive grids. The championship has been a stepping stone for aspiring young riders who have competed in international races and won accolades. We are hopeful that the new season will throw up fresh talent.”

With a packed schedule and a diverse lineup of categories, the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 is poised to deliver an unforgettable season of racing action. Fans can look forward to witnessing some of the best motorcycle racing talent in the country battle it out on the track.

Formula 1

Kush Maini completes first test in a Formula 1 car

Kush Maini tests Alpine’s A522 in Austria, his first time ever in a Formula 1 car. Becoming the first Indian driver to drive a current generation of Formula 1 car.

Published

4 weeks ago

June 6, 2024

Aman Adusumilli

@kmainiofficial on X

The Indian Formula 2 driver joined the Alpine Junior Academy last October and is mentored by the two-time Formula 1 world champion Mika Hakkinen.

Kush Maini on Wednesday took part in a young driver test with Alpine at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. He drove the Alpine A522 in the Styrian hills making it his first time driving a Formula 1 car. According to Viaplay Sport journalist Kunal Shah Maini’s laps ‘were super competitive during the test.’

A dream come true to have had my first ever Formula 1 test with BWT Alpine F1 Team. Massive thank you to the entire team for this incredible opportunity. Can't wait for the next one! @AlpineF1Team pic.twitter.com/MypYPBroLn
— Kush Maini (@kmainiofficial) June 6, 2024

Kush Maini completes first test in a Formula 1 car

The Alpine Formula 1 team announced on Monday that they have mutually agreed to part ways with their current F1 driver Esteban Ocon, leaving a seat empty alongside Pierre Gasly.
Currently, Alpine’s reserve driver Jack Doohan is reportedly the front-runner to partner with Pierre Gasly in 2025. However, Alpine is also interested in availing the services of Yuki Tsunoda or Valtteri Bottas, was also interested in Ferrari’s outgoing Carlos Sainz.

Can Kush Maini get a shot at the F1 seat?

Kush Maini had a solid start to this 2024 Formula 2 campaign. However, He had his good share of bad luck in the first few weekends of the season. He was disqualified in the Qualifying session in the season opener in Bahrain after qualifying in Pole Position due to a technical infringement, forcing him to start both races from the back of the grid. In round 2 of the Formula 2 championship, He lacked race pace in the Saturday sprint however we saw him take his second career podium in the Feature Race where he finished P2 after inheriting pole position from Oliver Bearman, who stepped up for Carlos Sainz in the Saudi Arabian GP.

Kush Maini took his third career podium in the sprint race but lost out to a Safety Car in the Feature Race after leading the majority of the laps. Coming to the European leg of the season, Maini struggled to even qualify in the top 10 during the Imola GP weekend and the Monaco GP weekend. With nearly a four-week gap in the next F2 weekend in Barcelona, Invicta Racing and Kush Maini have enough time to work on their issues and return to their early season form.

Kush Maini completes first test in a Formula 1 car — @kmainiofficial on X

Kush Maini’s camp will have a realistic shot at the Formula 1 seat for 2025 if he continues to impress the Alpine management during the Formula 1 tests and also with consistent race finishes in his 2024 Formula 2 campaign. If Jack Doohan is promoted from his current reserve driver role to a full-time role in Alpine, Kush Maini has a good chance of replacing him as the reserve driver of Alpine.