Author: Anuj Tripathi

Built the biggest motorsports community in India through F1ndia, now building a homegrown motorsports brand with the community.

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Indian Motorsports

Indian Racing Festival: John Abraham announced as owner of Goa Aces

Indian Racing Festival: John Abraham announced as owner of Goa Aces

John Abraham now owns the Goa Aces by JA Racing for the 2024 Indian Racing Festival. Known for his charisma and racing enthusiasm, Abraham will drive the Goa franchise forward. His commitment to advancing motorsports in India adds substance, glamour, and excitement. As the thrilling season approaches, Abraham’s dual passion for the sport and the spotlight guarantees a spectacular event.

From August 24 to November 17, the Indian Racing Festival, organized by Racing Promotions Pvt. Ltd. (RPPL), will roar with the sounds of engines and screeching tires. In its third season, IRF promises unmatched intensity and spectacle, featuring the Indian Racing League (IRL) and the FIA Formula 4 Indian Championship (F4IC). This exhilarating festival will deliver extraordinary racing excitement, making it bigger and better than ever.

Sohil Shah driving the #24 Goa Aces car (Photo: Akhil Puthiyedath/ Indian Racing League)


John Abraham will amplify his impact in his new role with the Goa Aces by JA Racing. His dedication to safe riding, shown in his personal pursuits and admired by countless fans, will serve as a powerful influence. This dual commitment on and off-screen will inspire a new generation of racing enthusiasts.

“Having John Abraham as the owner of Goa Aces is poised to unlock immense potential for developing Goa into a premier motorsports venue. John’s deep passion for racing and his collection of bikes and cars will amplify interest in the sport, adding to the region’s proud sporting culture. This strategic move promises to also elevate Goa’s status in the motorsports world and expand its appeal beyond traditional racing circles,” said Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director of RPPL.

John Abraham is known for his involvement in football ownership, he will now make a significant impact in motorsports as the owner of Goa Aces by JA Racing. With his deep passion for the sport and commitment to motivating the motorsports community, Abraham aims to enhance the vision of the Indian Racing Festival. His influential presence and strong connection with India’s youth are expected to attract a new generation of fans, elevating the sport’s profile and igniting enthusiasm across the country.

Expressing his enthusiasm about joining the Indian Racing Festival as the owner of Goa Aces by JA Racing, John Abraham remarked, “I’ve always been captivated by fast cars and bikes, and I’ve longed to be part of this thrilling sport as it makes new strides in our country. I am thankful to the IRF team and as owner of Goa Aces, I’m excited about the opportunity to help build a robust motorsports ecosystem in Goa and, with the Indian Racing Festival, uncover new talent that can shine on the global stage in the near future.”

Goa Aces: Reigning Champions of Indian Racing Featival

Goa Aces are the reiging cars champions of the Indian Racing League. The #24 car driven by Sohil Shah and Raoul Hyman won the Cars’ Championship last year. Both drivers last year combined for 3 poles, 2 wins and 3 podiums in 6 races. They lost out in the team’s championship by just 6 points, finishing behind Bangalore Speedsters. This year not only would they be looking to defend their title, but also do the double by winning the Teams’ Championship.

Goa Aces team from 2023 (Photo: Srinivasa Krishna/Indian Racing League)

Exciting Star – Studded Season up ahead

Fans are gearing up for three months of thrilling racing weekends. John Abraham joins the lineup, adding excitement. Sourav Ganguly owns the Kolkata Royal Tigers, and Arjun Kapoor owns the Speed Demons Delhi team. This star-studded group highlights the growing popularity of motorsports in India. The Indian Racing Festival attracts achievers from diverse fields who share a passion for cars, creating an electrifying celebration.

Jack Taylor in the Goa Aces liveried Formula 4 car (Photo: Akhil Puthiyedath/ Indian Racing League)

The 2024 Indian Racing Festival features eight city-based teams from Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Goa, Kochi, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata. These teams will compete fiercely for the championship from August to November. The event promises a high-octane spectacle, showcasing top motorsport talent from India and beyond. Additionally, the festival will introduce a groundbreaking night race on a street circuit in Chennai, marking a historic first for Indian motorsports and amplifying the thrill and grandeur of the second edition.

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Indian Motorsports

RMC India Round 3: Top honours for Rishon, Nikhilesh, Rivaan

The third round of RMC India took us to Coimbatore, at the brand new CoASTT circuit, built by India’s first F1 driver, Narain Karthikeyan. Bengaluru’s Rishon Rajeev and Nikhilesh Raju, and Rivaan Dev Preetham, the 11-year-old from Chennai, took the honours in their respective categories in the third round of the MECO FMSCI National Karting Championship 2024.

Read the Report from Round 2 here.


Former National Champion and Indian F4 Vice-Champion from 2024, Rishon Rajeev (Birel Art India), topped the Pre-Final and the Final in the Senior Max class. Rishon won the 20-lap Final by 7.4 seconds showing absolute dominance on track. Further Rayo Racing’s Krish Gupta from Mumbai finished second and Ruhaan Alva (MSPORT) from Bengaluru came in third.

Rishon Rajeev (#84 – Infinite Birel ART India) Photo: Shameem Fahath

Nikhilesh Raju (Peregrine Racing) extended his win streak by winning both the Pre-Final and Final races in the Junior Max category. In fact, Nikhilesh Raju has now won all 3 finals in the Junior Max Class of the championship. He edged out Gurugram’s Aarav Dewan (Leapfrog Racing) in the Final with Eshanth Vengatesan (Chennai, MSPORT) taking P3 spot. In the Pre-Final too Nikhilesh was a comfortable winner while Eshanth finished second, ahead of Aarav.

Nikhilesh Raju (#45 – Peregrine Racing) leading the pack in Junior Max. Photo: Shameem Fahath

In the Micro Max finals, Rivaan Dev Preetham led a 1-2 finish for MSPORT. The MSPORT driver finished comfortably ahead of Rehan Khan R and Rayo Racing’s Danish Dalmiya from Mumbai in P3. Earlier, in the Pre-Final, the trio had finished in the same order. Rivaan started from pole and won both the Pre-Finals and Finals, ultimately putting up a dominant display.

Rivaan Dev Preetham, winner in Micro Max class. Photo: Shameem Fahath

Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore City, V. Balakrishnan and District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati were the chief guests at the prize distribution ceremony.

Categories
DTM

DTM Norisring: Rast and Thiim win on the streets of Nuremberg

DTM, 7. + 8. Rennen Norisring 2024 - Foto: Gruppe C Photography

It was a weekend of René Rast won his first race of the 2024 season driving flawlessly in changing conditions. On Sunday, it was Nicki Thiim who won his first-ever DTM race. Here’s how the weekend unfolded.
Read the preview of the Norisring weekend here

Rene Rast takes his first win of the season on Saturday

Saturday’s race at the Norisring started with Jack Aitken from Emil Frey Racing taking the lead in his Ferrari 296 GT3. Aitken’s strong start put him ahead of Sheldon van der Linde (Schubert Motorsport) and Lamborghini’s Mirko Bortolotti. The race strategy centred around potential rain, with top drivers delaying their mandatory pit stops. When the rain did arrive, most drivers switched to rain tyres, but René Rast gambled on staying out with slicks. This bold decision allowed Rast to take the lead and secure victory, as his competitors on rain tyres couldn’t close the gap.

Rene Rast wins Race 1 of DTM Norisring 2024 – Photo: Gruppe C Photography

Franck Perera, who also stayed on slicks, followed in second place, while Luca Engstler climbed from 15th to finish third after an impressive charge on dry tyres. Nicki Thiim took fourth, overtaking teammate Bortolotti in the final corner. Kelvin van der Linde finished sixth, maintaining his overall lead in the championship, while his brother Sheldon van der Linde placed seventh. Maro Engel ended in eighth, with Aitken dropping to ninth after losing his early advantage. Maximilian Paul completed the top ten, capping a thrilling race defined by strategic tyre choices and changing weather conditions.

Podium from Race 1 of DTM Norisring 2024 – Photo: Gruppe C Photography

 “For me, the Norisring is one of the best tracks on the calendar, this victory feels gigantic. It got a bit louder on the radio because I absolutely wanted to continue driving with slicks despite the rain. It was a brave decision, but it paid off,” said Rene Rast

Nicki Thiim follows his father and makes history with Norisring’s victory.

In a thrilling eighth race of the DTM season, Nicki Thiim capitalized on his pole position to command the race from the start, steadily extending his lead over teammate Mirko Bortolotti. Maro Engel made an early pit stop and used his warmed-up tyres to overtake Bortolotti, securing second place. The race took an intense turn when the safety car was deployed with just ten minutes remaining, yet Thiim maintained his lead to claim victory after 69 laps.

Nicki Thiim wins Race 2 of DTM Norisring 2024 – Photo: Gruppe C Photography

Behind the top three, Arjun Maini delivered a commendable performance, finishing fourth in his Mercedes-AMG after a flawless race. René Rast, who started further back on the grid, displayed exceptional skill and determination, climbing 14 positions to secure fifth place in his BMW M4 GT3. Thomas Preining also impressed, advancing from 12th to 6th in his Porsche 911 GT3 R with strong overtakes in the closing laps.

Arjun Maini with a strong P4 finish in Race 2 of DTM Norisring 2024 – Photo: Gruppe C Photography

The race wasn’t without drama for championship contender Kelvin van der Linde. Starting fourth, he suffered a setback after contact with Ferrari driver Jack Aitken. The collision pushed him down the order, and he ultimately finished ninth. This result saw van der Linde relinquish his lead in the championship standings to Bortolotti, with Rast moving up to third overall. Despite the setbacks, the race highlighted the resilience and tactical brilliance of the top drivers, setting the stage for an exciting second half of the 2024 DTM season.

“As a young boy, I watched my father’s DTM races here, and a win at the Norisring was always at the top of my bucket list. Repeating my father’s success feels incredible, especially after the difficult season so far. The moments after crossing the finish line were very emotional for me,” said Nicki Thiim.

Find the latest Championship Standings here.

Up Next: Norisring after a break

DTM takes a month-long break before heading to the “Green Hell” in motorsports. Round 9 of the championship will see the grid visiting Nurburgring from 16 to 18 August.

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Formula 2

Kush Maini wins in Hungary: Formula 2 Round 9 Review

The weekend at Hungary was action-packed, just as you would expect Formula 2 to be. The championship rivals had a bad outing, giving everyone else a chance to catch up to them. While Kush Maini scored his first in F2. Here are the top talking points from Hungary.

Read the Round 9 Preview here

Kush Maini is Finally a Race Winner in F2

Kush Maini finally became a race winner in Formula 2. After qualifying P9 for the feature race, Maini would start the sprint race on the reverse grid front row. Verschoor was on Pole and was starting on hard tyres, just like Kush. At the start, both Maini and Verschoor got off the line well, but Kimi Antonelli who was starting on softs got past them. Maini, in P3, kept piling the pressure on Verschoor in P2. Eventually, Antonelli’s Softs ran out of rubber and a lock-up from him helped Verschoor and Maini get past the Prema driver. Maini finished in P2 behind Verschoor, but a post-race disqualification meant the Indian driver was promoted to the top step.

Kush Maini scored valuable points in the Feature Race, starting from P9 on the alternate strategy and finishing P7. He took home 16 points from Hungary, marking his tied second-best weekend in terms of points.

Kimi Antonelli wins the Feature Race on the alternative strategy.

Kimi had a weekend full of gambles in Hungary. In the Sprint Race, Kimi gambled to start on Softs while the majority were on Hards. The gamble didn’t pay off as his tyres wore off before the end of the race and he had to pit for fresh rubber. In the Feature Race, Kimi again gambled on the alternative strategy. This time, however, it worked perfectly. Two Safety Car interventions helped Kimi utilize his alternative strategy perfectly.

Making use of his fresh Softs while everyone ahead of him was on old Hards, Kimi Antonelli took his first Feature Race victory in Formula 2.

Bad outing for Championship rivals

Both Championship rivals had a tough weekend in Hungary. The championship leader Isack Hadjar left Hungary with just 7 points. Finishing 4th in the Sprint Race, he was then promoted to P3 following Verschoor’s disqualification. In the Feature Race, Hadjar who was supposed to start from P3 was going to start from the pitlane instead. The Campos driver failed to leave the pits in time before the pit lane closed. After that, there wasn’t much Hadjar could do and he finished the race 18th.

His closest rival Paul Aron scored a combined 5 points during the weekend. The weekend started well for Aron, scoring the pole position for the Feature Race. This meant he’d start P10 for the reverse grid Sprint Race. He climbed up 3 spots to finish P7, later getting promoted to P6. In the Feature Race, Aron got a poor launch off the line, and then a huge lockup into turn 1 dropped him down to seventh. On Lap 7, Aron went into the back of Zane Maloney, causing both drivers to spin into a stop.

This gave other drivers to close some gap to the top. Gabriel Bortoleto currently sits P3 in the standings, 30 points shy of the top.

Everything to play for in the Teams’ Championship

The top three teams in the Formula 2 championship are separated by only nine points. Invicta Racing enjoying a good weekend to climb to the top of the standings.

Next Up

Formula 2 heads to Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps for Round 10 of the championship. You can watch all the sessions live on F1TV and Fancode.

Follow Desi Racing Co. to never miss an update from the world of Motorsports.

Categories
Formula 2

Formula 2 Round 9 Preview: Top 5 storylines heading into Hungary

NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JULY 07: Isack Hadjar of France and Campos Racing (20) leads Zane Maloney of Barbados and Rodin Motorsport (5) during the Round 8 Silverstone Feature race of the Formula 2 Championship at Silverstone Circuit on July 07, 2024 in Northampton, England. (Photo by James Sutton - Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)

Budapest hosts Formula 2 for Round 9 of the championship. The Hungaroring will be first stop of the double header before we head to the summer break. Here are DRC’s top 5 storylines heading into Budapest.
Read the Round 8 review here.

Hadjar will look to maintain his championship lead.

Hadjar has finally regained the championship lead that he lost to Paul Aron earlier in the season. In the last 6 Feature Races, Hadjar has 3 wins and 2 more podiums to his name. His worst result in those feature races was a fifth place finish in Barcelona.

(Photo by James Sutton – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)

Hadjar is currently 16 points ahead of second placed Paul Aron in the championship. The campos driver will be looking to extend this lead over the double header.

Aron looking to make a comeback after a disappointing Silverstone

Paul Aron went into Silverstone hoping to end his winless streak in Formula 2. Things didn’t go as planned and he failed to score a single point in Silverstone. Having scored a podium in each of the seven opening rounds, not scoring a point in the eighth round was disappointing. This resulted in Aron losing his championship lead to rival Isack Hadjar.

(Photo: Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)

The Hitech driver will look to bounce back in Hungary. With just 16 points adrift of the top, a solid weekend can close that gap down. The results in Silverstone being majorly affected by his spin in qualifying. However, he was on provisional pole before the spin and showed good pace in the races as well. Aron will definitely be the one to watch as he now hunts for his first win and also the championship lead.

Zane Maloney looking to build on Silverstone success

Even though Maloney didn’t get a win in Silverstone, but 2 podiums in both races meant he had his second best weekend of the season so far. The Rodin driver won both races in Bahrain, getting a start people could only dream of. But, the form dipped with the Bajan scoring only 1 podium in the next 6 weekends. Silverstone was a turn in form with Maloney scoring two P2 finishes.

(Photo by Joe Portlock – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)

The solid weekend in Silverstone has put Maloney P3 in the championship standings. Coming into Budapest, Maloney will look to build on his success from last round.

Maini will look to turn his mixed weekends into solid ones

The Indian driver has scored 2 podiums in the last 3 rounds. But the performance is still far off from what people expected out of him. Having challenged for race wins and pole positions at the start of the year, that form has seen a dip since Imola. It was reported that he had a cracked chassis in Imola and Monaco. In Spain he had a brand new chassis and the form improved. Ever since then it has been a mixed bag of results.

Heading into Hungary, the Indian driver will be looking to put it all together and have a solid weekend. Hungaroring is also the track where Maini scored his first and only Formula 3 podium.

Teams’ title fight heating up

The 2024 Formula 2 teams’ title fight is intensely competitive, with Campos Racing currently leading by 23 points. Rodin Motorsport initially dominated, but their momentum waned, allowing teams like Hitech Pulse-Eight and MP Motorsport to close in. The top five teams are closely matched, with only 51 points separating them. As the season progresses, the standings are expected to remain volatile, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion. With numerous races left, including unpredictable circuits like Baku and Lusail, the title fight is far from over.

(Photo- Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)

Schedule and Where to Watch.

You can watch Formula 2 live in India on F1TV and Fancode. The full weekend schedule is as follows.

Categories
Formula 1

GIFT City’s Formula 1 Racetrack Plans Hit a Roadblock

Gujarat’s GIFT City’s ambitious plan to build a racetrack for holding Formula 1 (F1) races has come to a grinding halt just four months after initiating a feasibility study and selecting consultants, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Earlier this year, on March 11, the Gujarat Sports Authority announced that top international F1 racetrack designers were invited to present the feasibility of constructing an F1 racetrack at GIFT City. The project saw intense competition among global designers, with the consortium of renowned German designer Hermann Tilke and India’s Arcop architects emerging as the frontrunner for the feasibility study.

GIFT City (Photo: Amit Dave/Reuters)

However, GIFT City’s plan has been halted, insiders revealed. “Designers had given feedback that given the layout of GIFT City, it may be difficult to build a racetrack that conforms to F1 standards due to structural issues,” said one source.

The financial implications also pose a significant hurdle. Estimates place the cost of building such a racetrack between Rs 5,000 and 10,000 crore.

R.S. Ninama, Director General of the Gujarat Sports Authority, and Hermann Tilke have not responded to inquiries from ET. Another source indicated that the project might be integrated into a larger plan for developing infrastructure for the Olympics. “So, you may get a racetrack, but not one that can host F1 races,” the source added.

GIFT City, located in Gandhinagar, has been developed as a financial hub. The city is aimed at attracting international businesses with various tax incentives. The government is focusing on enhancing the city’s livability by developing entertainment and leisure infrastructure. Notable projects include an underwater aquarium, water sports facilities, and a retail zone featuring a 158-meter-high Ferris wheel.

This story has been derived from a story reported by Economic Times.

Categories
Indian Motorsports

Sourav Ganguly becomes owner of Kolkata Royal Tigers

The Indian Racing Festival has received a massive boost with Sourav Ganguly joining the grid as a team owner. The former Indian Cricket team Captain and current BCCI President will own the newly announced Kolkata Royal Tigers. Indian Racing Festival comprises the Indian Racing League and Indian Formula 4 Championship. Indian Racing League is the world’s first franchise-based racing league. The league has 8 city-based teams—Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Kochi, and Ahmedabad. Out of these, Kolkata and Ahmedabad are new entrants.

Sourav Ganguly expressed his excitement about the association, he said:

“I am truly excited to embark on this journey with the Kolkata team in the Indian Racing Festival. Motorsports has always been a passion of mine while this opportunity not only allows me to contribute to the growth of motorsport in Kolkata but also aligns with my belief in fostering a culture of excellence and sportsmanship. Together with the Kolkata Royal Tigers, we aim to build a strong legacy in the Indian Racing Festival and inspire a new generation of motorsport enthusiasts, making the Kolkata Royal Tigers a formidable force in the Festival”

Sourav Ganguly with Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director of RPPL. 

“We are thrilled to announce Sourav Ganguly as the owner of the Kolkata franchise. His visionary leadership and commitment to excellence, shaped by years of legendary cricketing success, brings unparalleled dynamism to the Indian Racing Festival. Ganguly’s influence is set to inspire a new generation of motorsport enthusiasts across India, igniting passion and driving young athletes towards greatness. Additionally, his association is expected to significantly enhance awareness of the Indian Racing Festival (IRF) among a broader audience, further solidifying its position as a premier motorsport event in India” 

stated Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director of RPPL. 

Motorsports: A Sport on the Rise in India

Motorsports is currently on the rise in India. Sourav Ganguly, often known as the ‘Prince of Calcutta’ and ‘Dada,’ will surely boost the popularity of the sport in this country. The sport has seen exponential growth in the number of fans. Currently, fans rank motorsports as the 10th most-watched sport in the country. With a figure like Ganguly involving himself in the sport, this number can surely change.

About the Indian Racing Festival

The Indian Racing Festival (IRF) aims to captivate the growing motorsport fan base in India. Indian Racing League (IRL) and Formula 4 Indian Championship (F4IC) are the two championships under the Indian Racing Festival banner. Indian Racing League is an FMSCI-approved championship, which adds a level of prestige and official recognition.

The Indian Racing League (IRL) is India’s only 4-wheel racing league. With at least 1 female driver in every team, it becomes the world’s first gender-neutral racing championship series. IRL features six city-based teams competing in a dynamic franchise-based competition.

Indian Racing League at the Madras International Circuit (Image: Akhil Puthiyedath)

Formula 4 is an open-wheel, single-seater racing category intended for junior drivers. It is the first step of the ladder for an aspiring racing driver from karting to single-seater racing. The FIA-certified Formula 4 Indian Championship is attracting young and aspiring drivers from around the world and the country. It creates an opportunity for young drivers in their single-seater journey with minimal investment from their end. The drivers gain Super License points and the Indian talent gets to do this at home instead of going abroad.

The IRF has already announced its calendar with pre-season testing starting on 21st August. Madras International Circuit will host pre-season testing and Round 1. The championship is yet to announce the venues for the full season.

Categories
Indian Motorsports

Ruhaan Alva and Nikhilesh Raju Shine in Round 2 of the MECO FMSCI National Rotax Max Karting Championship

The second round of the Meco FMSCI National Rotax Max Karting Championship 2024 concluded at the Kartopia track with stellar performances from local champions. Ruhaan Alva of MSport emerged victorious in the Senior Max category, securing a double win.

In the Junior Max final, Nikhilesh Raju of Peregrine Racing, also from Bengaluru, clinched the top spot. Meanwhile, Mumbai’s Hamza Balasinorwala of Rayo Racing took home the Micro Max final victory.

Ruhaan Alva’s performance was particularly notable as he won the final race despite fierce competition. In the pre-final, Akshat Misra of Crest Motorsports initially finished first but was relegated to second place due to a 5-second penalty for causing a collision. Ishaan Madesh of Peregrine Racing consistently placed third in both races.

The Junior Max pre-final saw Pune’s Arafath Sheikh of Crest Motorsport taking first place, with Nikhilesh Raju finishing second. Mumbai’s Kiaan Shah of Rayo Racing secured third place in both the pre-final and final races.

In the Micro Max category, 11-year-old Rivaan Dev Preetham of MSport won the pre-final, edging out Danish Dalmiya, also of MSport, who took second place. Hamza Balasinorwala, who finished third in the pre-final, went on to win the final, marking a successful round for Rayo Racing.

Provisional Results:

Senior Max – Final (16 laps):

  1. Ruhaan Alva (Bengaluru, MSport) – 15:19.195
  2. Hunner Singh (Gurugram, Birel Art India) – 15:23.711
  3. Ishaan Madesh (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) – 13:49.776

Pre-final (14 laps):

  1. Ruhaan Alva – 13:49.246
  2. Akshat Misra (Bengaluru, Crest Motorsports) – 13:49.432
  3. Ishaan Madesh – 13:49.776

Junior Max – Final (14 laps):

  1. Nikhilesh Raju (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) – 13:04.539
  2. Arafath Sheikh (Pune, Crest Motorsport) – 13:05.434
  3. Kiaan Shah (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) – 13:10.054

Pre-final (12 laps):

  1. Arafath Sheikh – 11:58.722
  2. Nikhilesh Raju – 11:59.359
  3. Kiaan Shah – 12:00.492

Micro Max – Final (12 laps):

  1. Hamza Balasinorwala (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) – 12:28.512
  2. Danish Dalmiya (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) – 12:29.021
  3. Rivaan Dev Preetham (Chennai, MSport) – 12:29.559

Pre-final (10 laps):

  1. Rivaan Dev Preetham – 10:31.034
  2. Danish Dalmiya – 10:31.159
  3. Hamza Balasinorwala – 10:32.828
Categories
Formula 2

Isack Hadjar Retakes Championship Lead: Formula 2 Round 8

NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JULY 05: Pole position qualifier Isack Hadjar of France and Campos Racing (20) celebrates in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of Round 8 Silverstone of the Formula 2 Championship at Silverstone Circuit on July 05, 2024 in Northampton, England. (Photo by James Sutton - Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)

Isack Hadjar took pole and a win in Silverstone to retake the Formula 2 championship lead in Silverstone. Here are the storylines from the weekend.

Disaster Weekend for Paul Aron

Paul Aron coming to Silverstone had a podium each round, this streak ended in Silverstone. Not only did he fail to score a podium, but he also didn’t score any points at all. The Estonian driver qualified P12 after making an error and spinning out with 10 minutes left in the session. This left him with major flat spots while everyone else improved their times. In the Sprint Race Aron collided with Martí and it left both out of the race. In the Feature Race, Aron finished outside the points in P12. Having lost his Championship lead, Aron would be looking to take it back in Hungary.

Hadjar gets the Pole and a Win

Isack Hadjar had a mixed weekend but most of it was on the good side. Qualifying on Pole, Hadjar started the Sprint race in P10. The Campos driver beached his car on lap 8 straight into Copse. The next day in the feature race Hadjar had a bad start starting from pole and fell back. Hadjar then drove brilliantly to come back into the race and was running P2 behind Crawford. A 5s time penalty for Crawford meant Hadjar who was only 2.5s behind would take the victory after the penalty was applied.

(Photo by Joe Portlock – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)

Heading into Budapest as the championship leader, Hadjar would look to extend his lead on top.

“Race winner on Sunday, unfortunately not on track like we wanted. But still, it was a really fun race with lots going on and I managed to bring those points home. Already looking forward to Budapest.”

Isack Hadjar after the feature race

Zane Maloney takes Double Podium

Maloney didn’t get any race wins but scored 2 crucial podium finishes to climb up to 3rd in the championship standings. An uneventful sprint race as Maloney started P2 and finished P2 as well. The Feature Race however was anything but uneventful. The Bajan driver had a great start to move up 3 places. He then went on to manage his tyres and pace well to finish P2 after Crawford’s penalty. After scoring 0 points last weekend, Maloney would be happy to bounce back with two P2s.

(Image: Formula 2 via Getty Images)

Andrea Kimi Antonelli gets his first win.

The Mercedes Junior was having a lackluster season in Formula 2, delivering performances below everyone’s expectations of him. The prime candidate for the Mercedes seat, he had to step up to show everyone that he deserved the seat. Having started from the reverse grid pole in the Sprint Race, Kimi excelled in mixed conditions to finish P1.

“Got my first win, really happy with the result. It was a difficult race in difficult conditions, but we managed pretty well and I’m really happy to bring home the first win of the season.”

Andrea Kimi Antonelly

The feature race ended early for the Italian after being sent into a spin by Kush Maini on the opening lap. An overall decent weekend and the Sprint Race victory will only motivate him to push for being constantly at the front.

Image credits: Formula 2 via Getty Images

Mixed weekend for Kush Maini

The Indian driver had another mixed weekend in Silverstone, similar to what he had in Austria one week back. The pace was looking strong for Maini in qualifying, but traffic hampered his final push lap resulting in him qualifying P8. On the reverse grid for the Sprint Race, Maini started P3 and finished P3 too, but the race was not as simple as it looks like. The Alpine junior driver was holding position in mixed conditions after being under constant pressure from his teammate. On the last lap, Bortoleto made a move on Maini on the last corner, overtaking him to finish P3. Later on the stewards deemed the move illegal, as Bortoleto overtook outside the track. This resulted in Maini getting back the 3rd place.

In the feature race, Maini tapped Kimi from behind, sending the Prema driver into a spin and giving Maini damage. This forced Maini to make an early pit stop. After that, the race was pretty much uneventful for the Indian who crossed the finish line in P19. Maini also got a 10s time penalty for the opening lap incident, but that didn’t affect his finishing position.

Championship Standings

Isack Hadjar moves to the top of the Championship ahead of Paul Aron, 133 points to 117. Zane Maloney improved his position in third, now on 101 points with Gabriel Bortoleto fourth on 98. Franco Colapinto is P5 on 92 points.

In the Teams’ Standings, Campos Racing lead with 171 points ahead of MP Motorsport in second on 158. Invicta Racing are just two points back in third position, while Hitech Pulse-Eight and Rodin Motorsport round out the top five with 142 and 120 points respectively.

Formula 2 will take a week off and head to Budapest for Round 9 of the championship from July 19-21.

Follow Desi Racing Co for regular updates on motorsports.

Categories
DTM

DTM Norisring: Heading to Germany’s only Street Circuit

DTM, 5. + 6. Rennen Norisring 2023 - Foto: Gruppe C Photography

The only street circuit in Germany will play host to Round 4 of the DTM Championship. Audi driver Kelvin van der Linde arrives in Norisring as the championship leader. But the lead is only 8 points to Mirko Bortoloti in second. A race winner scores 25 points, and that is the gap between first and ninth in the championship standings.

Read the Zandvoort race weekend review here

Photo: Gruppe C Photography

Championship leader looking to keep his lead

The six races of the championship till now have seen 5 different winners. Kelvin van der Linde would love to change that and become the only other two-time winner this season after Jack Aitken. A strong weekend can see him leave Norisring as the championship leader.

 “I always had the pace there to be at the front, but so far not the necessary luck.”

The Audi driver has done well in Norisring, he has had 3 podium finishes in 4 races. This time around, he’d want to be on the top step of the podium.

#3 Kelvin van der Linde (Photo: Gruppe C Photography)

Home Race for Marco Wittmann

The BMW Factory driver, Marco Wittmann arrives at his home race weekend and there couldn’t be a better time for him. Wittmann scored his first win of the season in Zandvoort last round.

With 10 DTM race weekends under his belt, no one knows Norisring as well as Wittmann.

“The challenge is special because you drive extremely close to the guard rails, there are no run-off areas and you therefore cannot afford to make a single mistake,” explains Wittmann.

His game plan: “You have to be extremely focused and concentrated. The Norisring may only have four corners, but that is exactly what makes the track so difficult. Because the lap times are very close together. That is what makes the Norisring special, as is the unique flair and atmosphere.”

#11 BMW M4 GT3: Marco Wittmann (Photo: Gruppe C Photography)

The unique challenge of Norisring

The only street circuit has only 4 corners, just two sharp bends, and almost the entire straight ahead at full speed. But the track comes with its own set of challenges. Instead of run-off areas or gravel beds, the road is mostly limited by walls or crash barriers. Before the hairpin bend at Dutzendteich and the Grundig bend, the drivers have to brake hard, and in between the spectators experience full-throttle racing with slipstream duels. In addition, the Norisring is by far the shortest track on the calendar at 2.162 kilometers.

Norisring Track Layout (Image: DTM)

Arjun Maini looking to continue his strong season.

Arjun Maini is having his strongest season in DTM yet. The Indian driver has been constantly putting in performances that see him at the top end of the grid. Recently in Zandvoort, Maini scored his first podium of the season. Just 20 points off the top of the standings, Maini can mount a serious championship challenge if he keeps making such consistent performances. The Mercedes driver would also be looking to score his first win in the championship at a track where he got his first podium in his debut season.

#36 Arjun Maini (Photo: Gruppe C Photography)

Timings and Where to Watch

You can watch all the DTM action live on Fancode in India. Full timings in IST are given below:

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