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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.

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A strong Italian F4 weekend for Akshay Bohra and Dion Gowda
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.

A strong Italian F4 weekend for Akshay Bohra and Dion Gowda
Credits: ACI Sport

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.

A strong Italian F4 weekend for Akshay Bohra and Dion Gowda
Credits: ACI Sport

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.

A strong Italian F4 weekend for Akshay Bohra and Dion Gowda
Credits: ACI Sport

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.

A strong Italian F4 weekend for Akshay Bohra and Dion Gowda
Credits: ACI Sport

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.

A strong Italian F4 weekend for Akshay Bohra and Dion Gowda
Credits: ACI Sport

Up Next:

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

A strong Italian F4 weekend for Akshay Bohra and Dion Gowda
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Indian Motorsports

Super Formula to race at India’s Buddh International Circuit?

A delegation from Japan Race Promotion (JRP), the organizers of Super Formula, visited the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida to inspect the track and discuss a potential future race.

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Super Formula to race at India's Buddh International Circuit?
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Japan’s premier single-seater championship, Super Formula, could soon make its debut in India. A delegation from Japan Race Promotion (JRP), the organizers of the series visited the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida this week to inspect the facilities and explore the possibility of adding India to the championship’s future calendar.

Super Formula delegation
Image Credit – HT PHotos

The high-level delegation included Yoshihisa Ueno (President), Takuya Hori (Technical Director), Takashi Matsui (GM, Corporate Strategy), and Genki Miura (Assistant Manager, International Sales and Marketing). They met with officials from the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), including CEO Rakesh Kumar Singh, ACEO Nagendra Pratap Singh, and OSD Shailendra Bhatia, before touring the circuit to assess its readiness for hosting a Super Formula round.

“The visit is a major step toward adding India to the Super Formula calendar. If the delegation finds the circuit suitable, we’ll move ahead with detailed planning and formalities for hosting the championship” – YEIDA CEO Rakesh Kumar Singh

Super Formula to race at India's Buddh International Circuit?
Image Credit – The Impressive Times

What is Super Formula?

Founded in 1973, Super Formula is Japan’s top-tier open-wheel series and is often regarded as the second-fastest racing championship in the world after Formula 1. The series features advanced Dallara-built chassis powered by Honda and Toyota engines and races at iconic Japanese circuits such as Suzuka, Fuji Speedway, and Twin Ring Motegi.

Super Formula to race at India's Buddh International Circuit?
Image Credit – Dutch Photo Agency/Red Bull Content Pool

If confirmed, this event would mark the return of world-class motorsport to India, years after the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix (2011–2013), FIA Formula E Hyderabad E-Prix 2023 and MotoGP Bharat 2023. Both faced setbacks due to logistical and financial hurdles, but Super Formula’s potential entry signals renewed international interest in Indian motorsport.


Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/XInstagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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Indian Motorsports

Akshay Bohra’s 2025 FRECA Season Review: First Indian Race Winner & Pole-Sitter

A historic win, a breakthrough pole, and a season of undeniable progress. Akshay Bohra has firmly established himself as one of the most exciting rising talents in European junior racing. With the 2026 season fast approaching, one question remains: what lies ahead for the #FlyingNaan?

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Akshay Bohra’s 2025 FRECA Season Review: First Indian Race Winner & Pole-Sitter
Image Credit - © Dutch Photo Agency.

Early Season: Finding Pace and Consistency

Akshay Bohra entered the FRECA season with some prior experience in the Formula Regional car, having competed in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship earlier in the year — a five-round series held across January and February of 2025. Akshay got up to speed quickly, scoring points on his FRECA debut with a P9 finish at Misano. He continued to build momentum in Round 2 at Spa-Francorchamps, showing strong pace, though a few small mistakes prevented him from converting it into a bigger points haul.

Akshay Bohra’s 2025 FRECA Season Review: First Indian Race Winner & Pole-Sitter
Image Credit – © Dutch Photo Agency

The breakthrough came in Round 3 at Zandvoort. In a weekend marked by the season’s first wet sessions — one of the hardest conditions for any young driver — Akshay delivered a standout performance, qualifying on the front row and going on to claim his first FRECA podium. This result also made him only the second Indian to stand on a FRECA podium, following his brother, Nikhil Bohra.

History Making Weekend: The Pole and the Win

Akshay’s standout moment came at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, where he made history by taking pole position and converting it into a lights-to-flag victory. He controlled the race from the start, managing pressure, tyre wear, and pace with maturity well beyond his experience. The result marked the first pole and first race win for an Indian driver in the Formula Regional European Championship.

Akshay Bohra’s 2025 FRECA Season Review: First Indian Race Winner & Pole-Sitter
Image Credit – © Dutch Photo Agency

Mid-Season Challenges and Growth

Following his historic win at Imola, Akshay encountered a more challenging phase of the season beginning at the Red Bull Ring. He finished outside the top four for the first time in five races and missed out on points for the first time since Race 2 at Spa-Francorchamps, which brought an end to his nine-race points-scoring streak. The difficulties continued into Race 1 of Round 8 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where he once again finished outside the points.

Akshay Bohra’s 2025 FRECA Season Review: First Indian Race Winner & Pole-Sitter
Image Credit – © Dutch Photo Agency

However, in Race 2 at Barcelona, Akshay appeared to regain his momentum. He finished on the podium in P3, showing composure and racecraft by holding off a fast-charging Freddie Slater, the eventual 2025 FRECA champion.

Final Rounds and Overall Championship Standing

Akshay was running comfortably inside the top five in the overall championship heading into the final round, but his position changed after a difficult weekend at Monza. In Race 1, he had produced one of his strongest drives of the year, climbing from P18 to P5 within the first ten minutes of racing despite a tough qualifying. However, just after a safety car restart, his car suddenly lost power and he was forced to retire. “It was tough,” Akshay reflected, “but these things happen in motorsport.” The incident not only cost him a significant haul of points, but also shifted the momentum in the championship standings at a critical stage.

Akshay Bohra’s 2025 FRECA Season Review: First Indian Race Winner & Pole-Sitter
Image Credit – © Dutch Photo Agency

Akshay concluded his Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) campaign 6th in the overall championship(2nd of the first-years’), with 1 race win, 1 pole position, 6 podium finishes, and 15 points-scoring races.

What’s next for Akshay?

Akshay Bohra’s 2025 racing campaign is not over yet. He will return to India to contest the remaining two rounds of the Indian Racing League with Hyderabad Blackbirds. He will be back behind the wheel of the #31 car, which he shares with Gabriela Jílková, and the duo currently leads the Cars’ Championship standings after Round 3.

Akshay Bohra’s 2025 FRECA Season Review: First Indian Race Winner & Pole-Sitter
Image Credit – Indian Racing Festival (Srinivasa Krishnan)

Given his performances in FRECA this year, a step up to FIA Formula 3 would seem like a natural progression. However, Akshay will not be making that move for 2026 due to financial constraints. Speaking to Desi Racing Co, Akshay Bohra said that his “future plans are still being discussed.”

F3 in 2026 seemed like the next step considering my performance this year, but unfortunately with no major financial support from anyone but family, the budget was too high. However, I still have many exciting options that I’m looking forward to – Akshay Bohra


Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/XInstagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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Mumbai Street Circuit Announced; Set to A Host Night Race in 2025

Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis has officially announced the Mumbai Street Circuit, set to host a night race. With this, Mumbai becomes the fourth city to feature a street race and only the second to stage a night street race.

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Mumbai Street Circuit Announced; Set to A Host Night Race in 2025

“This is a step in the direction to make Maharashtra the motorsports capital of Asia. We will be hosting the F4 race as a street circuit in Navi Mumbai as our 1st initiative in this direction.” – Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

The Mumbai Street Circuit will host Round 5 of the Indian Racing League and Indian Formula 4 on November 29–30, 2025. With this, Mumbai joins Hyderabad, Chennai, and Goa as a street circuit host city, becoming only the second venue to stage a night street race after the Chennai Formula Racing Circuit, which held its race in August 2024.

Mumbai Street Circuit Announced; Set to A Host Night Race in 2025
Chennai Formula Racing Circuit, August 2024

Neither Racing Promotions Private Limited nor the Government of Maharashtra have confirmed details of the track or location yet. It is understood that more details, including the track layout, will be revealed closer to the round in November.


Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/XInstagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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