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.
🚨RACE WEEK! It's the first race of the season for Polo Cup India and we are proud to announce that we have partnered up with 2023 Rotax India Champion Aditya Patnaik who'll be taking part in the championship!
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.
Indian Oil's STORM-X, the advanced racing fuel will power the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Car Racing Championship 2024 starting July 19 in Chennai.
Earlier Indian Oil stated they want to make fuel for F1 teams, this is a step in the the right direction. pic.twitter.com/tqVyQuaNDt
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.”
Speed Demons Delhi, the team participating in Indian Racing League and Formula 4 India has announced the arrival of actor Arjun Kapoor as their new team owner under a multi-year agreement.
Ever since I was a young kid I’ve always been interested in cars and motorsports, and Delhi’s love for racing is clear. The Indian Racing Festival, along with our Delhi team, is a great opportunity for young racers and fans. I believe we can discover and support talent that could represent India internationally, making motorsports more popular here.
Arjun Kapoor, owner of the Delhi team at the Indian Racing Festival, shared his excitement
With Arjun Kapoor’s presence the Speed Demons Delhi franchise in the Indian Racing Festival is poised to make a significant impact. Arjun Kapoor’s personal passion for motorsports not only aligns perfectly with our objective but also serves as a powerful catalyst to enhance it. His involvement will authentically resonate with enthusiasts, bringing a fresh wave of excitement and engagement to the sport and helping us captivate and inspire a growing community of motorsport aficionados nationwide,”
remarked Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director of RPPL
For starters, Indian Racing League(IRL) and Formula 4 India championships are organized by ‘Racing Promotions Pvt Limited(RPPL)’ under a combined event called the ‘Indian Racing Festival’. This year, season kick starts with the Pre-Season testing on the 21st and 22nd of August, while Round 1 commences at the Madras International Circuit on the 24th of August.
The Team – Speed Demons Delhi
Speed Demons Delhi was part of the Indian Racing League since the beginning the league in 2022. They have also took part in the inaugural Formula 4 Indian Championship last year. The teams performance was very underwhelming in both their campaigns as they finished last in the teams’ championship.
2022 🆚 2023 Team Standings
Last season we saw some big changes in the order and points tallies of our teams as compared to the previous year.
— Indian Racing League Official (@Irlofficial1) June 19, 2024
However, in 2023 Bangalore Speedsters proved that a lot can change from one season to the other after they have won the Teams’ championship in 2023, a remarkable work done by the team who finished 5th in the previous year.
Speed Demons Delhi is still yet to announce their driver line-up for the 2024 season, it is expected that an announcement will be made in the due course.
For the second round of the Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship, we visit the famous Madras International Circuit. Every racing opportunity is a possible showcase event for these young prospects, and in Chennai, it was no different from 4-7 July. Here is DRC’s report from the weekend.
Friday : battle for the starting positions
Qualifying for the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship ensued on friday in spectacular fashion. This weekend was the first time that the Pro Stock 301-400cc bikes were using slick tires. Hence, extra practice time was given to them.
Come the end of the 15 minute long qualifying session, it was Sarthak (1:49:383) who took the honours in the Pro Stock 301-400cc class by mere 0.043 seconds over Chiranth Vishwanath (01:49.426). KY Ahamed posted a time of 01:51.032 to come in P3.
Sarthak and Chiranth were reversed on the timesheets in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open category. Chiranth Vishwanath (01:54.388) snatched P1 from Sarthak (01:54.483) by just 0.093 seconds. Multiple National champion Jagan Kumar (01:55.580) came in P3.
In the Girls (Stock 165cc) category, Ann Jennifer (Alpha Racing India) went P1 with a time of 2:08:213. Ryhana Bee (Motul Sparks Racing)(02:09.070) followed her in P2 and Nadine Faith Balaji (Alpha Racing India, 02:09.864)) completed the top 3. Round 1 winner Rakshitha Dave could only manage P5 due to a issue with her bike.
Ann Jennifer took pole in the Girls stock 165cc category; image- Anand Philar
Abdul Basim (Rockers Racing(02:06.793)) took pole in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category. However he ended the session with a crash as he came down on the exit of the bridge complex. He walked away with just bruises, meaning he starts the race from P1 on Saturday. In P2 was Mysuru’s Tasmai Cariappa (Motul Sparks Racing(02:09.292)) followed by his teammate Lal Nunsanga from Mizoram.
Abdul Basim took pole in the Novice Stock 165 cc category; image-Anand Philar
Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup
Mohsin Paramban(01:51.451) qualified in P1 in NSF 250R category, followed closely by AS James (01:51.941) and Prakash Kamat (01:52.206). Round 1 winner Rakshith Dave missed this weekend for his commitment in the Honda Talent Cup in Thailand.
TVS One Make championship
In the TVS One make championship, Senthilkumar C (01:55.616) came in P1 in Open (Apache RR 310) category from V Lokesh (01:57.299) and Raj Kumar C (01:57.762).
In the Rookie (RTR 200) class, it was the Round 1 winner, Harshith V Bogar (2:10:975) who took pole. CS Kedarnath (02:12.133) from Tirupati and Thrissur’s Saranjit Singh (02:15.265) follwed to complete the top 3.
For the Girls (Apache RTR 200) qualifying session, Sarah Khan (02:14.227) took the P1 honours from V Aisvariya (02:16.120) and aimah Ajaz Baig (02:16.437).
In the TVS Electric RTE category, Sarthak Chavan posted a 1:49:524 to go at te top. Chiranth Vishwanath (01:50.578) came in P2 while Alwin Sundar was third in 01:51.748.
Saturday – Sarthak Chavan does the double
Sarthak Chavan, the 17 year-old from Pune was the man of the moment as he won in both Pro Stock 301-400cc class and Pro Stock 165cc class. He won the former with a lead of nearly 7 seconds. For the latter, however, he had to fight.
Sarthak Chavan won in both the Pro Stock races on Saturday; credits-Anand Philar
He got on the back of his teammaes to catch double slip streaming at Turn 8 on the Last Lap, eventually finishing the race in 1st. He also won the fastest lap of the day across all categories from Indian Oil.
Chiranth Vishwanath, his nearest rival, faced some issues with his bike to finish in P7. The Podium was completed by fellow TVS riders, KY Ahamed and Deepak Ravikumar.
The Novice (Stock) 165cc class was won by Abdul Basim (Rockers Racing), while Jagathishree Kumaresan (One Racing) scored her maiden win in the Girls (Stock 165cc) category. The Novice (Stock) 301-400cc category was won by Kaushik Subbaiah Ganesan (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate).
Kaushik Subbaiah Ganesan (25) won in the Novice (Stock) 301-400 cc category; image-Anand Philar
Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup
Mohsin Paramban won the NSF 250R race in his maiden wi of the season, followed home by Prakash Kamat and AS James in 2nd and 3rd.
TVS One-Make Championship
Senthilkumar C won again in the Open (Apache RR310) category from Manoj Yesuadian from Chennai and Jayanth P from Chennai as well.
In the Girl (Apache RTR 200) class, Saimah Ajaz Baig came home in P1 from SP Shuria of Coimbatore andd Sarah Khan of Mumbai.
For the Rookie (RTR 200) class, Harshith V Bogar completed a hatrick of wins. P2 went to CS Kedarnath and Akarsh Jangam took home P3.
Sunday – Too close for comfort
Sunday’s Pro(Stock) 165 cc race became very close towards its end. 10 time National Motorcycle Racing Championship winner Jagan Kumar and 17 year-old Sarthak Chavan crossed the finish line at the exact same time, something known as a dead heat finish. Ultimately, Jagan Kumar was given the win as he had the fastest lap of the race.
This meant that Sarthak couldn’t replicate his Saturday heroics. He still won in the Pro (Stock) 301-400cc category. Chiranth Vishwanath lost the lead when he missed a gear on the back sweep at the last lap. This meant that Chavan narrowly swept into the lead for a close finish.
In the Girls (Stock) 165cc category, Jagathishree Kumaresan swept the weekend as she came home 1st, followed by Ryhana Bee and Ann Jennifer.
Jagathishree Kumaresan(03) won in the Girls (Stock) 165cc category; image-Anand Philar
Abdul Basim (Rockers Racing) won in the Novice (Stock 165cc) class while Pradeep C from Bengaluru got his maiden win in the Stock 301-400cc (Novice) race.
Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup
Mohsin Paramban swept the wins off the weekend as his lead in the championship now sits at a healthy 37 points.The Podium was completed by Savion Sabu and AS James come the end of the eight lap race.
TVS One-Make Championship
In the Open (Apache RR310) category, winning laurels went to Manoj Yesuadian of chennai. He was followed to the finish line by Jayanth P and Lokesh V in P2 and P3.
In the Rookie (Apache RTR 200) race, Harshith V Bogar came home in P1, while CS Kedarnath and Rajivsham AS came home in P2 and P3.
In the TVS Electric RTE category, Sarthak Chavan won his second consecutive race in this class. Chiranth Vishwanath came in P2 while Chennai’s Alwin Sundar completed the podium.
Click here to read the report for Round 1 of Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship.
The Indian Racing Festival has received a massive boost with Sourav Ganguly joining the grid as a team owner. The former Indian Cricket team Captain and current BCCI President will own the newly announced Kolkata Royal Tigers. Indian Racing Festival comprises the Indian Racing League and Indian Formula 4 Championship. Indian Racing League is the world’s first franchise-based racing league. The league has 8 city-based teams—Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Kochi, and Ahmedabad. Out of these, Kolkata and Ahmedabad are new entrants.
Sourav Ganguly expressed his excitement about the association, he said:
“I am truly excited to embark on this journey with the Kolkata team in the Indian Racing Festival. Motorsports has always been a passion of mine while this opportunity not only allows me to contribute to the growth of motorsport in Kolkata but also aligns with my belief in fostering a culture of excellence and sportsmanship. Together with the Kolkata Royal Tigers, we aim to build a strong legacy in the Indian Racing Festival and inspire a new generation of motorsport enthusiasts, making the Kolkata Royal Tigers a formidable force in the Festival”
Sourav Ganguly with Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director of RPPL.
“We are thrilled to announce Sourav Ganguly as the owner of the Kolkata franchise. His visionary leadership and commitment to excellence, shaped by years of legendary cricketing success, brings unparalleled dynamism to the Indian Racing Festival. Ganguly’s influence is set to inspire a new generation of motorsport enthusiasts across India, igniting passion and driving young athletes towards greatness. Additionally, his association is expected to significantly enhance awareness of the Indian Racing Festival (IRF) among a broader audience, further solidifying its position as a premier motorsport event in India”
stated Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director of RPPL.
Motorsports: A Sport on the Rise in India
Motorsports is currently on the rise in India. Sourav Ganguly, often known as the ‘Prince of Calcutta’ and ‘Dada,’ will surely boost the popularity of the sport in this country. The sport has seen exponential growth in the number of fans. Currently, fans rank motorsports as the 10th most-watched sport in the country. With a figure like Ganguly involving himself in the sport, this number can surely change.
🇮🇳 97 million watch Car Racing in India🏎️
Cricket tops the chart for Sports Audience at 612 Million – Covering 90% of the Audience base whereas Car Racing 10th on the top 10 sports covers 97 million users (14% of the userbase)
The Indian Racing Festival (IRF) aims to captivate the growing motorsport fan base in India. Indian Racing League (IRL) and Formula 4 Indian Championship (F4IC) are the two championships under the Indian Racing Festival banner. Indian Racing League is an FMSCI-approved championship, which adds a level of prestige and official recognition.
The Indian Racing League (IRL) is India’s only 4-wheel racing league. With at least 1 female driver in every team, it becomes the world’s first gender-neutral racing championship series. IRL features six city-based teams competing in a dynamic franchise-based competition.
Indian Racing League at the Madras International Circuit (Image: Akhil Puthiyedath)
Formula 4 is an open-wheel, single-seater racing category intended for junior drivers. It is the first step of the ladder for an aspiring racing driver from karting to single-seater racing. The FIA-certified Formula 4 Indian Championship is attracting young and aspiring drivers from around the world and the country. It creates an opportunity for young drivers in their single-seater journey with minimal investment from their end. The drivers gain Super License points and the Indian talent gets to do this at home instead of going abroad.
The second round of the Meco FMSCI National Rotax Max Karting Championship 2024 concluded at the Kartopia track with stellar performances from local champions. Ruhaan Alva of MSport emerged victorious in the Senior Max category, securing a double win.
In the Junior Max final, Nikhilesh Raju of Peregrine Racing, also from Bengaluru, clinched the top spot. Meanwhile, Mumbai’s Hamza Balasinorwala of Rayo Racing took home the Micro Max final victory.
Ruhaan Alva’s performance was particularly notable as he won the final race despite fierce competition. In the pre-final, Akshat Misra of Crest Motorsports initially finished first but was relegated to second place due to a 5-second penalty for causing a collision. Ishaan Madesh of Peregrine Racing consistently placed third in both races.
The Junior Max pre-final saw Pune’s Arafath Sheikh of Crest Motorsport taking first place, with Nikhilesh Raju finishing second. Mumbai’s Kiaan Shah of Rayo Racing secured third place in both the pre-final and final races.
In the Micro Max category, 11-year-old Rivaan Dev Preetham of MSport won the pre-final, edging out Danish Dalmiya, also of MSport, who took second place. Hamza Balasinorwala, who finished third in the pre-final, went on to win the final, marking a successful round for Rayo Racing.
Provisional Results:
Senior Max – Final (16 laps):
Ruhaan Alva (Bengaluru, MSport) – 15:19.195
Hunner Singh (Gurugram, Birel Art India) – 15:23.711
The Madras International Circuit buzzed with excitement as the first round of the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 unfolded over the weekend.
Qualifying Highlights
On Friday, teenagers Sarthak Chavan from Pune and Chiranth Vishwanath from Bengaluru dominated the Pro-Stock 301-400cc category. The two 17-year-olds, representing TVS Racing, claimed the top two positions, with Chavan setting a pole time of 1:51.688. Gusto Racing India’s Sairahil Pillarisetty from Hyderabad followed closely behind. Chavan also secured pole position in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open category, indicating his potential for a double victory.
Sarthak Chavan of TVS Racing (Image: Anand Philar)
Equally noteworthy was the performance of 17-year-old Abdul Basim from Chennai, who claimed pole in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category. Former National champion Ann Jennifer led the Girls (Stock 165cc) category. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan from Chennai topped the Stock 301-400cc (Novice) category.
Abdul Basim who qualified on Pole in Novice category (Image: Anand Philar)
In the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup, Mallapuram’s Mohsin Paramban, 22, secured pole position in the NSF 250R category. He narrowly edged out 15-year-old Rakshith S Dave from Chennai, with Shyam Sundar also from Chennai, rounding out the top three. Mohsin’s hot lap of 01:51.187 was just ahead of Rakshith’s 01:51.218, while Shyam posted a time of 01:71.708.
The TVS Racing One-Make Championship saw Chennai’s Manoj Yesuadian setting the pace in the Open (RR 310) class qualifying session. Followed closely by Senthil Kumar from Coimbatore and Ajai Xavier M from Nagercoil. In the Rookie (Under-23) (Apache RTR 200) category, Tirupati’s CS Kedarnath topped the qualifying session. Bengaluru’s Harshith V Bogar and Thrissur’s Saranjith KM completed the front row.
Mumbai’s Sarah Khan concluded the day by comfortably securing pole position in the Girls (Apache RTR 200) class, finishing 2.4 seconds ahead of Pune’s Saimah Ajaz Baig. Coimbatore’s Aisvarya V trailed by three seconds.
Race Day Triumphs
Saturday’s races saw the spotlight on the Dave twins from Chennai. Rakshith Dave, 15, triumphed in the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (NSF 250R) race, while his sister Rakshitha secured her maiden win in the Girls (Stock 165cc) category. Another set of siblings, KY Ahamed and Abdul Basim, also from Chennai, each won a race in their respective categories.
Rakshitha Dave and Rakshith Dave (Image: Anand Philar)
In the premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc race, Sarthak Chavan continued his excellent form by leading a 1-2 finish for TVS Racing alongside Chiranth Vishwanath. Despite a red flag that shortened the race to four laps, Sarthak maintained his composure and crossed the finish line first. However, in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open race, he faced a setback, crashing out while leading. KY Ahamed took advantage and claimed victory in a tight finish ahead of his TVS Racing teammate, Jagan Kumar.
Sarthak Chavan celebrating his win
Also finishing on the top step of the podium was Chennai’s Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate), who won the Novice 301-400cc class. The class gained National championship status this season.
Earlier, pole-sitter Abdul Basim held off a strong challenge from Mysuru’s Tasmai Cariappa (Motul Sparks Racing), who led briefly in the penultimate lap but conceded the advantage. Basim went on to win, with Tasmai and Coimbatore’s Abhinav G (Chandra LGE Racing) finishing second and third, respectively.
KY Ahamed (33) edging out Jagan Kumar to win the Pro-Stock 165cc Open race (Image Anand Philar)
Rakshitha Dave, starting from P2, moved in front by Turn-2, deftly avoiding any jostling behind her, and enjoyed a trouble-free run for a commanding win. Another Chennai rider, Jagathishee Kumaresan (One Racing), and Ryhana Bee (Motul Sparks Racing) settled for second and third spots, respectively, while pole-sitter Ann Jennifer (Alpha Racing) came in a disappointing fourth.
Rakshitha Dave on way to winning the Girls (Stock 165cc) race (Image: Anand Philar)
“I am very happy to score my first-ever win in the National championship. I had a good start today and a trouble-free run after going into the lead early in the first lap. The bike too performed very well,” said a delighted Rakshitha.
In the TVS One-Make Championship Coimbatore’s Senthilkumar C took the honours in the truncated Open (Apache RR 310) race that was reduced to three laps from six due to a red flag stoppage following an on-track incident. Jayanth Pratipathi (Chennai) came in second, ahead of Nagercoil’s Ajai Xavier M.
Harshith V Bogar from Bengaluru notched a dominating win in the Rookie category with second-placed Saranjith KM (Thrissur) finishing some 10 seconds behind. Vijayawada’s Akarsh Jangam was a distant third.
Mumbai’s Sarah Khan won the Girls (RTR 200) race untroubled by Pune’s Saimah Ajaz Baig and Aisvarya V (Coimbatore).
On Sunday, teenagers Sarthak Chavan, Rakshitha Dave, Abdul Basim, and Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan each clinched double victories in their respective categories.
Seventeen-year-old Sarthak Chavan from Pune established himself as the frontrunner in the premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open class, winning both races in commanding fashion. Despite a strong challenge from fellow 17-year-old Chiranth Vishwanath of Bengaluru, who secured second place in both races, Sarthak’s pace proved unbeatable. The duo’s performance left the rest of the field competing for the remaining podium spot.
In the Pro-Stock 165cc category, Sarthak experienced a setback when a collision with Chiranth while battling for the lead caused him to crash. Although both riders rejoined the race, veteran TVS Racing teammates Jagan Kumar, KY Ahamed, and Deepak Ravikumar capitalized on the opportunity to finish in that order. This marked Jagan’s first win of the season after a challenging 2023.
Jagan Kumar (center), winner of the Pro-Stock 165cc Open race, flanked by KY Ahamed (left) and Deepak Ravikumar. (Image: Anand Philar)
Chennai schoolgirl Rakshitha Dave, at just 15 years old, delivered a flawless performance in the Girls (Stock 165cc) category. Following her victory in Race-1 on Saturday, Rakshitha secured an unchallenged win in Race-2, further establishing her dominance in the field.
Another standout performer from Chennai, Abdul Basim of Rockers Racing, achieved a clean sweep in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category. Abdul won Race-2 with ease, mirroring his performance in Saturday’s race, and showcasing his consistent form and skill.
Chennai’s Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan also notched a double victory in the Stock 301-400cc (Novice) class, leading from pole position in both races and demonstrating his racing prowess.
The Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup saw an impressive ride from Shyam Sundar of Chennai, who won the NSF 250R race after starting from P4 on the grid. Shyam skillfully navigated through the front-runners to secure victory, with Mallappuram’s Mohsin Paramban finishing second and Saturday’s winner, Rakshith Dave from Chennai, taking third.
The TVS One-Make Championship witnessed a stellar performance from Senthilkumar C of Coimbatore. He won both races in the Apache RR 310 category, continuing his relentless pace from Race-1 on Saturday to top Race-2, ahead of Chennai riders Manoj Yesuadian and Jayanth P.
Bengaluru’s Harshith V Bogar continued his dominance in the Rookie category, winning Race 2 after his triumph on Saturday. Tirupati’s CS Kedarnath took second place, while Saranjith KM from Thrissur finished third, completing the podium.
Earlier in the weekend, Sarthak Chavan comfortably topped the TVS Electric RTE race, with his rival Chiranth Vishwanath finishing second and Chennai’s Alwyn Sundar taking third.
Novice – Stock 165cc: 1. Abdul Basim S (Chennai, Rockers Racing) (02:08.076); 2. Tasmai Cariappa (Mysuru, Motul Sparks Racing) (02:09.417); 3. Abhinav G (Coimbatore, Chandra LGE Racing team) (02:10.686).
Girls (Stock 165cc): 1. Ann Jennifer AS (Chennai, Alpha Racing India) (02:10.201); 2. Rakshitha Dave (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (02:10.381); 3. Jagathishree Kumaresan (Chennai, One Racing) (02: 10.799).
Novice (Stock 301-400cc) Race-1: 1. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power 1 Ultimate) (12:17.257); 2. Lokesh V (Bengaluru, Pvt.) (12:23.458); 3. Varun Nanjundegowda (Mysuru, Gusto Racing India) (12:27.927).
Idemitsu Honda India Cup (NSF 250R) Race-1: 1. Rakshith S Dave (Chennai) (11:12.157); 2. Mohsin Paramban (Malappuram) (11:16.226); 3. AS James (Bengaluru) (11:16.669)
Novice (Stock 301-400cc) Race-1: 1. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power 1 Ultimate) (12:17.257); 2. Lokesh V (Bengaluru, Pvt.) (12:23.458); 3. Varun Nanjundegowda (Mysuru, Gusto Racing India) (12:27.927).
Idemitsu Honda India Cup (NSF 250R) Race-1: 1. Rakshith S Dave (Chennai) (11:12.157); 2. Mohsin Paramban (Malappuram) (11:16.226); 3. AS James (Bengaluru) (11:16.669)
The 2024 season of the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship is set to kick off with an electrifying first round at the Madras International Circuit from June 13 to 16. The event promises high-octane action with 19 races lined up and over 100 riders from across India, representing 16 teams.
The championship will feature two prominent Pro-Stock classes: the 301-400cc Open and 165cc Open. These categories will showcase the skills of the country’s top riders on TVS, Honda, Yamaha, and KTM machines, making for a highly competitive and thrilling spectacle.
Image: Anand Philar
In addition to the Pro-Stock classes, the championship will also include several novice categories for stock bikes. These include the 165cc (under-23), Girls (165cc), and 301-400cc classes, all of which have attracted a significant number of entries, highlighting the growing interest and talent in the sport.
The event will also feature two One-Make Championships (OMC) organized by the Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC). These include the TVS OMC, which will feature races in the Open, Rookie, Girls, and Media categories, showcasing the RR 310 and Apache RTR 200 bikes. Additionally, the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup will see riders compete on the swift NSF 250R machines, with TVS also hosting a race for their Electric RTE bikes.
Image: Anand Philar
Continuing their tradition, both TVS and Honda have conducted trials across India to shortlist riders for their respective categories, with a focus on nurturing young talent. Select riders, based on their performance, have been given the opportunity to compete at the Asian level, further emphasizing the championship’s role as a breeding ground for future stars.
In a significant development, the 301-400cc Novice category has been elevated to National Championship status, underscoring the growing competitiveness and popularity of this class. Additionally, the number of races in the National Championship Girls category has been doubled from five to ten, with a double-header in each of the five rounds, providing more opportunities for female riders to shine.
Ajit Thomas, President of MMSC, expressed his excitement about the upcoming season, stating, “We are extremely pleased to have received well over 100 entries for the two-wheeler National Racing Championship, which will commence this weekend. We extend a warm welcome to the competitors, our long-time sponsors MRF Tyres, the manufacturers, and the media for the 2024 season. We are confident that the championship will deliver its share of wheel-to-wheel racing, given the very competitive grids. The championship has been a stepping stone for aspiring young riders who have competed in international races and won accolades. We are hopeful that the new season will throw up fresh talent.”
With a packed schedule and a diverse lineup of categories, the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 is poised to deliver an unforgettable season of racing action. Fans can look forward to witnessing some of the best motorcycle racing talent in the country battle it out on the track.
The Meco Kartopia track witnessed thrilling racing action as Akshat Misra of Crest Motorsports dominated the Senior Max final to clinch victory in the opening round of the MECO-Fmsci National Karting Championship Rotax Max 2024 on Sunday.
In a commanding display, Misra surged ahead after an intense start, leaving behind his competitors including experienced racer Ruhaan Alva from MSPORT and Varun Hari Praveen of Peregrine Racing, who secured second and third positions respectively in the Senior Max category.
The Junior Max category saw Nikhilesh Raju of Peregrine Racing emerge victorious after a tense battle over 14 laps. Eknath Vengatesan (MSPORT) and Aarav Dewan (Leapfrog Racing) completed the podium positions following a competitive race where Pune’s Arafath Sheikh, initially second, received a penalty, altering the final standings.
Meanwhile, in the Micro Max class, Rivaan Dev Preetham of MSPORT claimed victory after a hard-fought contest, initially challenged by Yatharth Gaur before technical infringements led to Gaur’s disqualification. Rehan Khan and Atiqa Asif Mir, both from MSPORT, secured second and third places respectively.
Hiyu Yamakoshi took pole position in the first qualifying session of the Imola weekend ahead of Freddie Slater and Akshay Bohra, becoming the first Japanese driver to do so in the Italian F4 championship. Dion Gowda also showed a strong qualifying pace by setting a time good enough for the second row alongside Akshay Bohra.
Race 1
In the first lap of the race, multiple contacts were made, causing multiple drivers to retire from the race and the Safety car was out. On the safety car restart, Freddie Slater who had dominated round 1 in Misano, jumped from P2 to take the lead, overtaking poleman Yamakoshi. From there, Slater controlled the race until the end ahead of Hiyu Yamakoshi and Akshay. Unfortunately for Freddie Slater, He was excluded from the race which handed the victory to Hiyu Yamakoshi, Akkshay Bohra was promoted to P2, and Dion Gowda was promoted on the final step of the podium. However, Freddie has appealed the decision that excluded him from Race 1.
Credits: ACI Sport
Race 2
The second race of the weekend saw Hiyu Yamakoshi, who started on pole position and successfully converted it into a race win and also took the lead in the championship. Australian driver Jack Beeton, who started from P2, initially held his position but was overtaken by his teammate Akshay Bohra. Bohra secured P2, matching his result from the previous day, until the end. The overtaking maneuver was highly spectacular, with Beeton ending up in the gravel but skillfully managing to stay in the race. However, Beeton, in third place, was targeted by Freddie Slater, who engaged in a fierce battle. A contact between the two at Tosa in the final stages once again shook up the race standings. Dion Gowda ultimately crossed the finish line in third. Gowda, incredibly fast throughout the whole weekend, drove an impeccable race, starting from the seventh spot on the grid to secure his second podium of the season.
Credits: ACI Sport
Qualifying 2
In the second qualifying session, Yamakoshi put on a show by stringing together perfect laps that earned him the remaining two pole positions available. The Japanese driver, with 1’44.831, was the only driver to lap under 1 minute and 45 seconds. Over 3 tenths separated him from P2, Australian Beeton with a gap of 0.346, who will join him on the front row. Third was Akshay Bohra, with a gap of 0.353 (only 7 thousandths from Beeton), in a qualifying session that, apart from Yamakoshi’s exceptional performance, saw all the other drivers vying for positions by mere thousandths. P4 went to Alex Powell with a gap of 0.364, followed by teammate Slater at 0.381. Sixth was US Racing’s Australian Gianmarco Pradel with a gap of 0.436, followed by Gowda at 0.443.
The grid for Race 3 was thus decided by the second-best time set by the drivers over the two sessions. Once again, the advantage was taken once again by Yamakoshi, who lapped at 1’45.125 in the second qualifying session. He will again be joined on the front row by Beeton at 0.077. Starting behind them will be Freddie Slater at 0.094 and Rehm at 0.219. Fifth place went to Nakamura Berta with a gap of 0.236, followed by Powell at 0.237, then Bohra at 0.253. The eighth-best second lap was set by Stolcermanis at 0.262, followed by Francot at 0.314, while Ferreira rounded out the top 10 with 0.349.
Credits: ACI Sport
Race 3
The final race of Round 2 of the Italian F4 Championship had a threat of heavy rain which prompted Race Control to declare it a ‘wet race’ in advance, Thankfully the track was dry come Sunday afternoon. Race 3 saw the return of Freddie Slater on the top step of the podium after the race leader Hiyu Yamakoshi who led for the majority of the race, damaged his front wing in Variante Alta with just 2 laps to go and was shown the ‘Black and orange’, forcing him to pit and drop down to P27. Jack Beeton finished in P2 ahead of Maxim Rehm who took the final spot on the podium. Akshay Bohra finished the race in P5 after finishing twice on the podium in P2 during the weekend, and ended with a haul of 46 points, securing third place in the drivers’ standings. Although Dion Gowda narrowly missed out on a points finish after finishing P11, He was promoted to P10 after the Dutch driver Reno Francot was penalized for his incident with Rashid Al Dhaheri.
Credits: ACI Sport
Championship Standings
Freddie Slater has regained the championship lead after Hiyu Yamakoshi failed to achieve a points finish in the final race of the weekend and now dropped to P2 in the standings. After a consistent Round 1 and a strong Round 2 for Akshay Bohra, he now sits P3 in the standing, 27 points a drift from the leader. Thanks to a strong round 2 weekend for Dion Gowda, He is currently P6 in the championship with 38 points.
Credits: ACI Sport
Up Next:
The Italian F4 Championship will head to Vallelunga Circuit on 14–16 June for Round 3 of the championship
Indian Racing League and Formula 4 Indian championship makes a return to the Madras International Circuit(MIC) in 2024. A very familiar venue for the drivers as they return to the circuit that hosted all the rounds of the 2023 season.
The dates for the rounds of the 2024 Indian Racing Festival were confirmed in the latter part of February, but the locations are still yet to be confirmed. However, recently the organizers have confirmed the series’ return to MIC for pre-season testing and Round 1 through an Instagram story. The season kick starts with the Pre-Season testing on the 21st and 22nd of August, while Round 1 commences on the 24th of August.
✍🏻 Mark your calenders, the Indian Racing Festival returns in 2024 with Pre Season Testing in August 🗓 🙌🏻
The initial calendar of the 2023 season had events planned across 4 different locations – Hyderabad Street Circuit, Buddh International Circuit, Madras International Circuit, and the newly announced Chennai Formula Racing Circuit. Due to unavoidable circumstances, all the rounds of the championship were hosted in MIC.
Initially, Round 2 at the Buddh International Circuit was canceled as the organizers faced scheduling and logistical issues. Later, The season opener that was supposed to be hosted on the Hyderabad Street circuit was canceled with the Election Code of Conduct in place due to the ongoing state elections.
The final round on the newly announced Chennai Formula Racing Circuit was rescheduled because of Cyclone Michaung. However, The cyclone hit the city worse than anyone expected. With the government heavily supporting the event, it was a decision about whether they had to put their resources into cyclone relief or in hosting a street race, hence the round moved to MIC as well.
