Indian Motorsports

INCRC Round 3 – Young talents dominate the weekend in Chennai

Published

1 year ago

July 22, 2024

INCRC Round 3 - Young talents dominate the weekend in Chennai

Akhil Agarwal won Race 1 in MRF F2000 category; credits-Shameem Fahath

The Indian National Car Racing Championship completed its Round 3 and the racing was every bit exciting. From new winners on Saturday to clean sweeps on Sunday, we had it all. Here is DRC’s report from the weekend down in Chennai.

Saturday – new winner in F2000 while old domination in F1600

In the F2000 category, the leaderboard looked a bit different as Akhil Agarwal, 29, from Mumbai, won after Jaden Pariat was disqualified. This DSQ was a result of Jaden not complying to a drive-through penalty that he gained due to a jump start. The podium was completed by Bengaluru’s Chetan Surineni and Tarun Muthaiah.

Abhay Mohan completed a clean sweep of wins in F1600 category; credits-Shameem Fahath

In the F1600 category, it was another show of domination by the 16-year-old Abhay Mohan. He raced to his 7th consecutive victory on Saturday. Monith Kumaran and Raaj Bakhru completed the podium.

Meanwhile, in the LGB1300 category, it was DTS Racing that took all the podium honors. Saturday’s Race 1 was won by Viswas Vijayaraj, his fifth of the season, while the podium was completed by Diljith TS (Thrissur) and Bala Prasath.

On the Stock car side of things, the racing was just as interesting to watch. For the Polo Cup, Mumbai’s Aditya Patnaik got an amazing getaway and held the lead till the end. In just his second race in the category, he breezed to an easy victory. The podium was rounded up by Bangladesh’s HM Tauhid Anwar Avik and Romir Arya of Mumbai.

Aditya Patnaik posing with Desi Racing Co. after his win; credits-Shameem Fahath

For the honours in MRF saloons category, Kesara Godage crossed the finish line first. Round 1 highlight Diana Pundole came across the line second while Sri Lankan Kalim Iqbal came P3.

Click here to read our report from the Indian National Car Racing Championship Round 1.

Biren Pithawala had quite a lonely race in the Indian Touring Cars as both the other cars of Ananth Pithawalla and Deepak Ravikumar did not finish citing mechanical issues.

For the Indian Junior Touring Cars category, there was quite some wheel-to-wheel action across the 8-lap race. Ultimately, Hatim Shabbir came back victorious followed home by Srinivas Teja and Yug Italiya.

Finally, in the Super Stock category, Justin Singh from Gurugram (Redline Racing) won in dominating fashion. The podium was completed by Chandigarh’s Angad Matharoo and Bala Prasath (DTS Racing) from Coimbatore.

Sunday – Jaden does the double while Pithawalla remains unbeaten

Sunday’s races meant that Jaden Rahman Pariat was back to winning ways in the Formula 2000 category. He won both Race 2 and Race 3 held on the final day of Round 3. Chetan Surineni (Bengaluru) and Akhil Agarwal (Mumbai) came home in P2 and P3 in both races.

Elsewhere in the F1600 category, there was the familiar name of Abhay Mohan on top of the timesheets. He has extended his race-winning streak to 9 with a double win on Sunday. Both Jaden Pariat and Abhay Mohan are on track to win the championships in their respective classes.

In the LGB1300 category, Viswas Vijayraj was the star of the weekend as he won both races on Sunday. In Race 2, he won the race starting from P5 on the grid. Diljit TS came P2 in both races on Sunday, while Neev Datta and Bala Prasath picked up P3 in Race 2 and Race 3, respectively.

For the Stock cars, Biren Pithawalla continues his consecutive win streak in Indian Touring Cars.

Biren Pithawalla unbeaten in ITC category; credits-Anand Philar

In the ever-competitive Indian Junior Touring Cars class, Hatim Shabbir won all three races held across the weekend. This meant that Hatim had come within touching distance (3 points) of the championship leader Srinivas Teja.

Justin Singh won in the Super Stock category in Race 3 held on Sunday, while his rival and championship leader Bala Prasath, won Race 2. Justin has won 2 of the 3 races held this weekend and is at P2 in the championship by a difference of just 6 points.

For the MRF Saloons P1 trophy, Kesare Godage of Sri Lanka crossed the finish line first in both Race 2 and Race 3. Despite this, Diana Pundole still leads the championship as she scored enough points over the weekend.

Finally, in the Polo Cup, Dhruv Chavan won 2 races out of the 3 held on Sunday. The other race was won by Aditya Patnaik. Meanwhile, the other youngster completing the podium was Ojas Surve. He collected 2 P3s and one P2 on Sunday. Throughout the weekend, Dhruv Chavan and Aditya Patnaik had two wins each over 4 races.

This marks the end of the two-day MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Car Racing Championship Round 3. It was a showcase of close racing in some places and dominations in others by young and upcoming talents. The INCRC will return for round 4 on Aug 16th-18th.

Click here to see the calendar of the Indian National Car Racing championship.

Formula 1

How did Kush Maini perform in the Formula 1 post-season test?

Kush Maini became only the third Indian driver to take part in an official Formula 1 session, after Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok.

Published

19 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Desi Racing Co

How did Kush Maini perform in the Formula 1 post-season test?

Kush Maini got a chance to drive Alpine’s 2025 challenger, the A525 in the post-season young driver test on Tuesday following the Abu Dhabi GP. This marked his first time driving a modern Formula 1 machinery, as the previous F1 tests were part of the ‘Testing Previous Cars’ programme. He also became the third Indian driver to take part in a official Formula 1 session, which is more than a decade later.

How were the test cars different from the ones used in 2025 Abu Dhabi GP weekend?

Regular drivers and rookie drivers ran two different types of cars during the test. A mule car adapted to approximate 2026 performance levels was assigned to the senior and more experienced drivers, while lightly modified 2025 cars were used by the young and rookie drivers. It’s also worth noting that a 290-300 kmph speed limit was enforced throughout the test. It should also be noted that the lap times are not representative, as each team follows different run plan and testing objectives set by Pirelli.

Kush Maini in the Alpine A525 Formula 1 in Abu Dhabi for the Formula 1 post season young driver test. — Kush Maini in the Alpine A525

The Morning session

Kush Maini took to the track for the first time in modern Formula 1 machinery and set a best time of 1:27.544, just a tenth of a second slower than Pierre Gasly’s 1:27.433. Desi Racing Co understands that both drivers were on a similar run plan and that there was no significant difference in the tyre compounds used.

🇮🇳 Kush Maini ended the morning test session in P17 with a lap time of 1:27.544.

For reference, the pole lap time from the Abu Dhabi GP was 1:22.207 in completely different track conditions.

⚠️ It should be noted that these timings are NOT representative as different teams have… pic.twitter.com/ITJVEGWh5Q
— Desi Racing Co (@DesiRacingco) December 9, 2025

The Afternoon session

Kush Maini headed out in the afternoon session for two race runs alongside Pierre Gasly. We understand that on one of Maini’s runs, he was quicker than Gasly, while on the second he matched Gasly’s pace. After completing the two runs, Maini’s day came to an end, while Gasly stayed on track for one additional race run.

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/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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.

Published

1 month ago

November 10, 2025

Aman Adusumilli

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

Image Credit -

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

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.

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.

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?

Published

1 month ago

November 6, 2025

Aman Adusumilli

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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