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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.

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Indian Racing Festival and Indian F4 race on the streets of Chennai.
credits: 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.


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.

Indian Racing Festival 2024: Indian Motorsport shines in the beautiful night
The podium for race 2 for Indian F4. Credits: Indian Racing Festival.

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.

Indian Racing Festival 2024: Indian Motorsport shines in the beautiful night
Gabriela Jilkova became the first ever female pole sitter in the IRF. Credits: 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.

Indian Racing Festival 2024: Indian Motorsport shines in the beautiful night
Team owner John Abraham celebrates a 1-2 along with the drivers. Credits: Indian Racing Festival.

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.

Indian Racing Festival 2024: Indian Motorsport shines in the beautiful night
Podium for the driver B race. Cerdits: Indian Racing Festival.

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.

Indian Racing Festival 2024: Indian Motorsport shines in the beautiful night
The season calendar for the Indian Racing Festival.

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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.

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

Super Formula to race at India's Buddh International Circuit?
Image Credit – The Impressive Times

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.

Super Formula to race at India's Buddh International Circuit?
Image Credit – Dutch Photo Agency/Red Bull Content Pool

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

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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?

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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.

Akshay Bohra’s 2025 FRECA Season Review: First Indian Race Winner & Pole-Sitter
Image Credit – © Dutch Photo Agency

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.

Akshay Bohra’s 2025 FRECA Season Review: First Indian Race Winner & Pole-Sitter
Image Credit – © Dutch Photo Agency

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.

Akshay Bohra’s 2025 FRECA Season Review: First Indian Race Winner & Pole-Sitter
Image Credit – © Dutch Photo Agency

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 Bohra’s 2025 FRECA Season Review: First Indian Race Winner & Pole-Sitter
Image Credit – © Dutch Photo Agency

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.

Akshay Bohra’s 2025 FRECA Season Review: First Indian Race Winner & Pole-Sitter
Image Credit – Indian Racing Festival (Srinivasa Krishnan)

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

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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.

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Mumbai Street Circuit Announced; Set to A Host Night Race in 2025

“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.

Mumbai Street Circuit Announced; Set to A Host Night Race in 2025
Chennai Formula Racing Circuit, 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/XInstagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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