Indian Motorsports
Indian Racing Festival Round 2 preview: Groundbreaking night race on a new track
The Indian Racing Festival heads to the Chennai Street Circuit for a historic night race.
The second round of the Indian Racing Festival will be a historic occasion. The Chennai Formula Racing Circuit hosts the first night time street race in India. Join us as we preview this weekend.
Table of Contents
The Track
The Chennai Formula Racing Circuit (CFRC) is a 3.5 kilometer long street circuit around the Island Grounds in Chennai. The CFRC is an anti-clock wise track, like Interlagos and boasts 19 corners. The track features a long straight and multiple chicanes. The track features a variety of low speed corners, hairpins and sharp corners along with high downforce sections. The consecutive chicanes towards the southern end of the track are inspired by the Esses at Suzuka.
According to projections, the chicanes and the hairpins allow for longer braking distances, which means racing closer than what you would expect from typical street circuits like Monaco. Another factor is the fact that this circuit was designed keeping in the mind the machinery Indian Racing Festival uses, the racing is expected to be close.
The track was designed by Driver International, the same organization that designed the Hyderabad Street Circuit which hosted a Formula E race last year. Read the track list for Indian Racing Festival here.
Formula 4 India: Quick recap, What to expect and storylines to follow
Hugh Barter was the name on everyone’s lips on last weekend. After dominating qualifying one and taking pole by nearly seven tenths of a second, he had to retire from a 15 second lead after his car car came to a halt moments before the chequered flag fell.
Saturday’s heartbreak would not stop him though, as he took pole in qualifying two by nearly a second. He would then tear through the field in race two and achieved the impossible: winning from the last row. Hugh Barter won race two from the fifteenth grid slot. He would then seal the deal on sunday with another dominating win in race 3, and secure all three fastest laps as well. Truly a majestic performance.
Congratulations are also in order for Jaiden Pariat who drove a very good races and finished in the points in all three races (first, seventh and fourth respectively). Ruhaan Alva also produced magical races and stood on the podium in both the IRL and the F4 categories, becoming the first person to do so in Indian Racing Festival.
Mira Erda also impressed in Indian F4. She was given the drive last minute and raced into the points in the first race. She would then retire from 11th second race and finish 11th for the third race, not bad considering she only had two practice sessions to get familiar with the car.
Another interesting statistic is that after the first three races, six of the eight teams have made a trip to the rostrum, showing how close racing in Indian Racing Festival truly is.
This is the first time these Mygale F4 cars have touched a street circuit, so it will be interesting to see how they perform. As this circuit is new for everyone, there is no familiarity factor involved, and so the grid will be mixed up. As this is a new circuit, it will also be somewhat down to luck: the team that nails the setup will be the one which walks away with the big points. Another point to consider will be the night time. The temperatures will be lower, as well as the track conditions. Conditioning to racing in the night will also be an issue that the drivers may face.
Keep an eye out for Hugh Barter, Ruhaan Alva and Isaac Demellweek this weekend, all three showing calm racing this weekend amidst a lot of chaos.
Indian Racing League: Quick recap, what to expect and storylines to follow
The first round of the IRL was eventful to say the least. Ruhaan Alva lapped up pole for the Rarh Bengal Tigers on Saturday ahead of Neel Jani and Jon Lancaster. Jon Lancaster then passed both Jani and Alva to win race 1, giving Chennai Turbo Riders their first home win. Alvaro Parente took home the silver medal, which Alva came third. Neel Jani unfortunately had to retire from the race. Saturday was a disappointing day for the current champions, Raoul Hyman qualifying 7th and then retiring.
Day two was filled with surprises as well. Alister Yoong took pole ahead of Akhil Rabindra and Sohail Shah for race two. The top two would remain unchanged in the race while, while Shah fell backwards through the pack. Gabriela Jilkova would then round out the podium, becoming the first female podium sitter in Indian Racing Festival this season. Shah would finish back in 8th, though bagging the fastest lap.
A lot of stories to talk about here coming into CRFC. Can Goa Aces sort out their problems and mount on a title charge? Eyes will be on Rarh Bengal Tigers, all four of their drivers have been racing well and keeping up with the pack. But the most important thing to look forward to is the resurgence of Alister Yoong. Having won for the first time since way back in the early rounds of 2022, he would love to carry forward this momentum onto the streets and score more bags of points.
All in all, this weekend of Indian Racing Festival is proving to be unpredictable, anyone can win and everyone has a shot at glory.
Weekend Schedule
This is how the weekend will play out for the second round of the Indian Racing Festival. All times are in IST. The races will be broadcasted live on Star Sports Select 2 and streamed live on Fancode.
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Indian Motorsports
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.
“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.
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/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
Indian Motorsports
Goa Street Circuit Officially Announced, Set to Host First Race in 2025
The Goa Street Circuit has been officially announced and will host its first race in 2025 as part of the Indian Racing Festival. Goa becomes the third Indian city with a street circuit following Hyderabad and Chennai.
The Goa Street Circuit has been approved by the Goa cabinet and is set to host Round 4 of the Indian Racing Festival in late October this year. Earlier in the year, Goa Tourism gave Principal approval to the Goa Street Circuit.
Honourable Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, today announced the “Goa Street
Race 2025” — a 3.2 km oceanfront circuit at Headland Sada, Bogda, as the official venue
for Round 4 of the 2025 Indian Racing Festival (IRF). Announced at a prestigious ceremony
at Auditorium 1, Maquinez Palace, ESG, Panjim, Goa, this landmark initiative reflects Dr.
Sawant’s visionary leadership in positioning Goa as a premier global destination for high-
Octane International Sporting Events. Scheduled from 1 to 2 November 2025, the race
promises to deliver a world-class motorsport spectacle against the state’s iconic coastline
while driving economic growth, tourism, and global recognition for the state of Goa.
The landmark announcement was graced by the presence of Asvin Chandru, IAS, CM
Secretary and CEO of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG); Shri Sankalp Amonkar, MLA –
Mormugao; Shri. Sarpreet Singh Gill, IAS, Secretary – Information & Publicity, Government
of Goa; and Mr. Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman & Managing Director of Racing Promotions Pvt.
Ltd. (RPPL).
The Goa Street Race 2025 promises to be a star-studded affair with an impressive line-up of
Celebrity team owners bringing their charisma and passion for motorsport to the track.
Leading the charge is John Abraham with the home team, Goa Aces JA Racing, joined by
Arjun Kapoor is steering the Speed Demons Delhi, and cricketing legend Sourav Gangulyis
powering the Kolkata Royal Tigers. Adding to the excitement, Sudeep Kichcha leads
Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru, Naga Chaitanya backs the Hyderabad Blackbirds, and Dr. Swetha
Sundeep Anand drives the spirit of Chennai Turbo Riders. Their presence is set to amplify
the thrill and glamour of this high-octane event.
“Goa’s rich heritage, dynamic culture, and stunning coastline provide an iconic stage for a motorsport property of global significance,” said Mr. Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman &
Managing Director, RPPL.
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
Akshay Bohra Makes History with Dominant Victory at Imola in FRECA 2025
Akshay Bohra made history as the first Indian driver to take a race victory in the Formula Regional European Championship.
Akshay Bohra delivered a commanding lights-to-flag performance at the iconic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, claiming a well-earned victory in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA). The win marks a major milestone in the young Indian-American driver’s career and further cements his reputation as one of the brightest emerging talents in junior single-seaters.
The 18-year-old, who became the first Indian to win a European single-seater title with his Euro 4 Championship triumph last year, made the step up to Formula Regional cars in 2024. Earlier this year, he also tasted victory in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship—signalling his smooth transition into more powerful machinery.
Arriving at Imola off the back of a podium finish at Paul Ricard, Bohra came into the weekend with strong momentum. He was consistently quick during pre-event testing on Thursday and Friday, frequently appearing at the sharp end of the timing sheets.
In Qualifying 1 on Saturday, Bohra narrowly missed out on topping his group, qualifying second by just 0.186 seconds behind his more experienced teammate. Starting P3 on the grid, he briefly slipped to fourth at the end of Lap 1 but quickly regained the position with what was arguably one of the best overtakes of the season. He went on to finish third, scoring his third podium of the season—the most ever by an Indian driver in the championship’s history.
Sunday, however, was a landmark day. Bohra claimed his first-ever pole position in FRECA—also a first for any Indian driver in the series. He then converted that pole into a dominant race victory, showcasing maturity, composure, and masterful control around one of the most technically demanding tracks on the calendar.
“Winning at Imola feels incredible. It’s a track with so much history, and to stand on the top step here is really special,” said Bohra. “The team gave me a fantastic car, and everything came together today. I’m proud of the progress we’re making this season.”
– Akshay Bohra
With this result, Bohra has climbed to 5th in the overall championship standings as the season crosses its halfway point. The victory is a testament to his relentless work ethic and rapid development in one of the most competitive junior categories in the world.
Akshay Bohra’s breakthrough at Imola not only highlights his undeniable talent but also stands as a proud moment for Indian motorsport, as he continues to inspire the next generation and represent India on the global racing stage.
About Akshay Bohra
Akshay Bohra was born in New York City and lived most of his childhood in Bangalore, India, where he began his racing career at age six in go karts. The 18-year-old Indian-American racing driver currently competes in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine and is managed by driver management company ADD, which also manages reigning F1 vice world champion Lando Norris of McLaren Racing. He is the only Indian driver to have won a European single-seater championship, with a title-winning campaign in the 2024 Euro 4 Championship. With a background in international karting and consistent success in the junior formula scene, Bohra is regarded as one of the most promising talents in global motorsport and the best Indian prospect in recent history.
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.
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