Chennai is about to witness a spectacle of speed and skill as it prepares to host India’s very first night street race. This exciting event, the second round of the Indian Racing Festival (IRF), will see drivers navigating a thrilling course through some of the city’s iconic landmarks.
The race will weave its way past the Victory War Memorial, Swami Sivananda Salai along the Cooum River, and Kamarajar Salai near Marina Beach, culminating at the Napier Bridge. The Chennai Formula Racing Circuit, designed around the Island Grounds, features breathtakingly fast straights and 19 challenging turns, promising a thrilling experience for both drivers and spectators.
The action kicks off on Saturday with free practice and qualifying sessions for the Indian Racing League (IRL), Formula 4 Indian Championship (F4IC), and the JK Formula LGB 4 categories. The IRF features the IRL and the FIA-certified F4 Indian Championship, with eight teams vying for victory.
The six city-based franchise teams of the IRL – Chennai Turbo Chargers, Goa Aces JA Racing, Speed Demons Delhi, Bangalore Speedsters, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, and Hyderabad Blackbirds – will battle it out for top honors. In the F4 Indian Championship, Ahmedabad Apex Racers and Godspeed Kochi will join the six IRL teams, adding to the intensity of the competition.
Adding to the excitement, the Round-2 of the 29th JK Tyre-FMSCI Indian National Racing Championship will run concurrently, featuring the Formula LGB4 class with a 24-car grid. The competition promises to be fierce, with notable drivers like Chethan Korada, the first Asian to win a race using prosthetic feet, and Nikhil Bohra, a veteran of European F4 teams, ready to showcase their skills.
The event promises a thrilling spectacle for motorsport enthusiasts, showcasing India’s growing racing scene and providing a platform for young Indian drivers to compete at the highest level. With its unique night racing format and iconic Chennai backdrop, the IRF is set to become a landmark event in Indian motorsport history.
