Indian Motorsports
Indian National Car Racing Championship 2024 returns for Round 3
The ever-electrifying Indian National car racing championship are about to set up their tents at the Madras International circuit in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The MRF 4W National Racing championship will be held across 8 categories, with 13 races and 71 entrants. With a lot to cover and many talents to look forward to, here is DRC’s preview for the weekend.
Polo Cup debuts alongside other touring car categories
Making its debut this weekend in the INCRC is the Polo Cup. This cup will have a 10 car grid with 4 races scheduled. In the 3 of these races, the Polo cup drivers will be sharing the grid with MRF Saloon category. The drivers to keep an eye out in Polo Cup will be Aditya Patnaik. He is the 2023 National karting champion from Mumbai, with whom we have partnered with.
The other drivers to look out for include Romir Arya from mumbai. He also has had some success at national level in karting.
In MRF saloons, Pune’s Diana Pundole will be unmissable on track. She leads the championship after winning 2 of the three races held in Round 1.
Amongst the other touring car categories are the Indian Touring Cars, Super Stock and Indian Junior Touring Cars. They will be racing in a combined grid fashion. In the ITC class, Biren Pithawalla of N1 Racing has been dominant as he won all the four races held in 2024.
In the IJTC class, Srinivas Teja has won at 3 out of a possible 4 times.
Click here to read the recap for Round 2 of the INCRC.
For the Super Stock class, however, Redline Racing’s Anirudha Aravind and Balaprasath of DTS Racing are locked in a close fight.
Single seater classes back in action
Another highlight of this weekend’s action will be pleothora of action in the single seater category. Racing this weekend will be the F2000, F1600 and the LGB1300 classes. In the F2000 and F1600 categories, Jaden Rahman Pariat (17) and Abhay Mohan (16) have absolutely dominated.
Jaden Rahman from Shillong has won 5 out of the six races held in the F2000 category. Meanwhile, Abhay Mohan of Bengaluru is unbeaten in 6 races held in the F1600 category.
In the LGB1300 category, Viswas Viayaraj has had 4 wins and 2 second place finishes. His rival Balaprasath of DTS Racing closely follows him with 1 win, 2 second place finishes and 3 P3s.
Indian oil becomes official fuel partner of Indian National Car Racing Championship
Indian oil has come forward in supporting the Indian Motorsports scene. They have become official fuel partners for the championship and will provide specialy created racing fuel, STORM-X for the race cars.
Click here to read the press release by Indian oil.
Apart from Indian oil, MRF Ltd. have also extended their long standing commitment to Indian motorsports by becoming the Title contenders of the championship for another decade.
Here is the quote from Vicky Chandhok, Chairman of the event-
“Even as we welcome back the competitors for Round-3 of the National Championship, the MMSC is pleased that Indian Oil has come on board as the official fuel partner and will supply high-octane petrol, STORM-X, specifically curated for racing cars and which enhances their performance. And with MRF Ltd continuing to extend their support for the next decade as title sponsors, the championship is set up nicely for an exciting weekend and season.”
Rehan Khan, an 11-year-old karting sensation from Chennai, has been selected for the prestigious Champion of the Future Academy Program.
2025 will mark the second full season of the international series. The Champions of the Future Academy Program spans six weekends. Introductory two days will be set for round 1 for the drivers to get acquainted with the material and officials and six double header race weekends, four of which being in Europe and two outside of the European Union. The aim of the Academy program is to increase the inclusion into professional kart racing through the arrive and drive concept. Promoted and hosted by RGMMC, the events will take place on high level circuits all around the world.
As a student at Don Bosco Egmore school, Rehan has already made an indelible mark in Indian motorsports, becoming the only driver to hold the fastest lap time record at every FMSCI-approved track in his class across India.
Rehan’s exceptional talent has now earned him a place in the globally recognized Champion of the Future Academy Program, where he will join 36 other karting prodigies from around the world. This opportunity will allow him to further develop his skills and compete in Europe.
With an impressive track record in India, Rehan has shattered records and demonstrated unwavering consistency in his performances.
The Champion of the Future Academy Program offers young drivers the training and exposure needed to compete at the highest level of motorsport.
CHAMPION OF THE FUTURE ACADEMY – CALENDAR 2025
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all my sponsors for believing in me and supporting my journey. Your trust and encouragement have played a vital role in helping me achieve my dreams, and I promise to continue striving for success both on and off the track,” Rehan said.
As he embarks on this exciting new chapter of his career, Rehan is determined to build on his success in India and continue to raise the bar as he prepares to compete on the European circuit.
Akshay Bohra has bagged his first win in 2025 and his first win in the Formula Regional category after placing first in Race 2, Round 4 of the Formula Regional Middle East Championship 2025 at Yas Marina Abu Dhabi.
Akshay, who recently won the Euro 4 Champion, making him the first Indian to win a European single-seater title made his step up to Formula Regional (Formula 3) cars this year.
READ MORE: Akshay Bohra steps up to FRECA and FRMEC in 2025
FRMEC 2025
The 2025 season of Formula Regional Middle East Championship or FRMEC kicked off in Yas Marina. The championship hosted 2 rounds in Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi before travelling to Dubai for Round 3 at the Dubai Autodrome.
Akshay Bohra faced a challenging start to his campaign. In Round 1, he suffered two DNFs in three races, while Round 2 was plagued by a general lack of pace—something he acknowledged himself. Having scored just three points in his first six races, Akshay headed to Dubai looking to make a strong comeback at a circuit he enjoys racing on.
In Race 1 at Dubai, Akshay finished P11—just one place short of securing reverse grid pole for Race 2. However, in Race 2, he demonstrated much stronger pace, keeping up with the more experienced drivers and climbing to P7 overall, P3 in the Rookie category. A post-race penalty for a competitor promoted him to P6 overall, marking a step in the right direction.
Race 3, however, proved to be difficult. On Lap 1, he had to take avoiding action due to an incident ahead, dropping to the back of the grid after starting P14. The race saw multiple safety car interventions, limiting his chances to recover positions, and he eventually finished P18.
First win in Formula Regional
The championship returned to Yas Marina for Round 4, marking its final visit to the venue for the season. Having gained significant mileage at the circuit from pre-season testing and the earlier rounds, Akshay was eager to capitalize on his experience.
The weekend began on a positive note, with Akshay finishing P6 in Free Practice. In Qualifying 1, he set a lap time of 1:50.675, placing him P10 on the grid—seven-tenths off the leader. However, technical issues in Qualifying 2 prevented him from setting a lap time, meaning he would start Race 3 from the back of the grid.
Race 1 saw a steady drive to P10, which crucially placed him on pole position for the reverse grid Race 2.
In Race 2, Akshay made a strong start, holding onto the lead on Lap 1 before the safety car was deployed due to an incident on track. Unfazed, he maintained his composure at the restart, defending his position against pressure from more far experienced drivers such as FIA Formula 3 driver Nikita Bedrin in the closing stages. In a calm and controlled drive, Akshay secured his first victory in the championship—a landmark moment in his Formula Regional career.
Round 4 wrapped up with Race 3, having started back of the grid, Akshay Bohra made up 10 places to come home at 16th in a race with long Safety Car interventions.
This win marks a significant step forward for Akshay as he continues his climb up the junior formula ladder. With growing confidence and improved performances, it could be the first of many victories to come.
Follow Akshay Bohra on Instagram to get constant updates about his career. Follow us at Desi Racing Co to get updates from the world of motorsports.
Indian Motorsports
Goa Street Circuit Set to Become India’s Newest Motorsport Destination
Goa Tourism gives Principal approval to the Goa Street Circuit. The new Street Circuit will make a debut during the 2025 Indian Racing Festival.
Racing Promotions Private Limited (RPPL), the organizer of the Indian Racing League (IRL) and the FIA Formula 4 Indian Championship (F4IC), has announced a new street track in India – the Goa Street Circuit.
After breaking the news on Sunday, February 9, 2025, RPPL confirmed that the Goa Street Circuit has received principal approval from Goa Tourism. The track will make its debut in 2025 as part of the Indian Racing Festival (IRF), which is set to run from August 24, 2025, to November 17, 2025.
A New Addition to India’s Growing Racing Calendar
The new Street Circuit joins the Hyderabad Street Circuit and the Chennai Formula Racing Circuit (CFRC), making it the third street track in India.
“The Indian Racing Festival 2025 is set to redefine motorsports in India, pushing the boundaries of speed, skill, and spectacle like never before. This season, we are thrilled to bring the high-octane action to the vibrant streets of Goa, a destination synonymous with energy, passion, and world-class experiences,” – Mr. Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman & Managing Director of Racing Promotions Pvt. Ltd. (RPPL).
Goa Aces to Race at Home for the First Time
Goa Aces by JA Racing, a team competing in the Indian Racing Festival and owned by Bollywood icon John Abraham, will race on home soil for the first time since the team’s inception in 2019.
“Motorsport is thrilling, intense, and electrifying – just like Goa! I am beyond excited to bring the Goa Aces to our home circuit. The Goa Street Race will be one of the most exciting races of the season, and I can’t wait to see the energy, passion, and speed take over the streets.” – John Abraham, team owner of Goa Aces by JA Racing.
Rehan Khan from Chennai joins Champion of the Future Academy Program
Akshay Bohra gets his first WIN of the year: FRMEC 2025
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