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
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.
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.
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.
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’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?
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
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
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.
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