Indian Motorsports
Indian Racing Festival 2024: Indian Motorsport shines in the beautiful night
The Chennai Formula Racing Circuit (CFRC) hosted the first night-time street race in India for round 2 of the Indian Racing Festival.
The Indian Racing Festival raced on the streets for the first time for the second round in the championship. The Chennai Formula Racing Circuit (CFRC) hosted the first ever night-time street race in South Asia. Join us as DRC review the second round of the Indian Racing Festival. Read the weekend preview here.
Table of Contents
Indian F4: Barter and Alibhai shine under the lights
While there was a hefty delay due to issues with FIA grading on Saturday resulting in last minute scheduling changes, Sunday was top notch entertainment. After a lot of delay regarding technical details around turns 10 and 19, the Chennai City Circuit, as its now officially called was awarded a Grade 3 rating by the FIA.
Hugh Barter dominated the first qualifying session, taking pole by an impressive margin of 1.5 seconds. Divy Nandan then narrowly beat Jaiden Pariat for the pole in second qualifying by half a tenth. Hugh Barter, who was the favorite, crashed on his hot lap in Q2 and had to start from the last grid slot.
Aqil Alibhai had a problem with his car and hence couldn’t start the first race. Zakariya Mohammed also could not finish the race and hence was not classified. But the star of race 1 was Hugh Barter, who managed to win with a 7 second gap to Ruhaan Alva followed by Abhay Mohan.
Alibhai didn’t let his problems stop him though. He raced brilliantly after starting third and overtook Divy and Jaden ahead. Divy was leading the race up until the very final moments, where a lock up caused Alibhai to catch up and then pass him with a brilliant overtake. Hugh Barter recorvered to an impressive fifth place after starting the second race from back in the last row.
Another positive thing was the track itself. The track proved to be wide enough to allow for very close racing. This was prove by the fact that we were able to see cars go three wide into turn 1 for the formula four practice sessions. The track was also loved by the drivers who praised the variety of corners the track threw at them.
With two rounds done and dusted, the bigger picture, i.e the championship battles are starting to fold out. The favorite is Hugh Barter, with Ruhaan Alva, Divy Nandan and Jaden Pariat emerging as his main challengers.
Indian Racing League: Goa Aces show resurgence while Parente rolls back the years to win
After a dismal showing last time out at the Madras International Circuit, Goa Aces seem to have sorted out their problems. Gabriela Jilkova took pole in the driver A pool qualifying session ahead of Raoul Hyman to lock out the front row for Goa. Meanwhile Sohail Shah would finish fourth in the pool B qualifying. Jilkova made history as she became the first ever female pole sitter in the history of the Indian Racing Festival.
Goa Aces would dominated in the drivers A race. They would finish 1-2, but swap positions as the defending champion Raoul Hyman took his first victory for the season and Jilkova would finish second to complete a Goa Aces 1-2. Alister Yoong, after his victory at the MIC, rounded out the podium as he finished third.
Sohail Shah would then race through to second on the pool B race, finishing only a second adrift of Alvaro Parente. Parente, the second oldest driver in the Indian Racing Festival behind Neel Jani impressed as he rolled back the years to his GP2 days to take the chequered flag first. Sohail Shah was the closest rival to him as Rishon Rajeev took the final place on the podium nearly eight seconds off the lead.
Speed Demons Delhi and Goa Aces look to have sorted out the problems that worried them at the MIC. Sohail Shah and Raoul Hyman, who finished 1-2 in their car, also walk away with 43 points as they look to defend their title. Goa Aces, thanks to Jilkova’s P2, also walk away with a boat load of points and are back in the mix.
Future races
The next round of the 2024 Indian Racing Festival will take place at the Kari Motor speedway from the 13th to the 15th of September.
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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.
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