The 2024 Indian Racing Festival kicks off this weekend, promising a thrilling season with the Indian Racing League and the FIA-certified F4 India Championship. This year’s festival introduces an exciting new 3.5km street circuit in Chennai.
Here’s your ultimate guide to the teams, drivers, race format, where to watch the action, and more.
2024 Indian Racing Festival Calendar
The season starts with Round 1 at Chennai’s Madras International Circuit on August 24-25. Following this, the new Chennai Formula Racing Circuit will debut from August 31 to September 1. This 3.5km street circuit, located around the Island Grounds in the heart of Chennai, boasts 19 corners and will host India’s first-ever night race on a street circuit.
Round 3 is scheduled for September 13-15 at Coimbatore’s Kari Motor Speedway. After a short break, Rounds 4 and 5 will take place on October 19-20 and November 16-17, respectively, with the venues yet to be announced.
2024 Indian Racing Festival Calendar
| Round | Venue | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Madras International Circuit, Chennai | August 24-25 |
| Round 2 | Chennai Formula Racing Circuit, Chennai | August 31-September 1 |
| Round 3 | Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore | September 13-15 |
| Round 4 | TBA | October 19-20 |
| Round 5 | TBA | November 16-17 |
Indian Racing League: Cars, Format, and Teams
The Indian Racing League returns for its third season, sticking to its franchise format with six teams, each featuring a mix of international and Indian drivers. Notably, every team must include at least one female racer.
The series uses the Wolf Thunder GB08 single-seater, powered by an Aprilia RSV4 engine. Each team fields two cars, with two drivers sharing each car: Driver A races on Day 1, and Driver B on Day 2. Each race day includes a practice session followed by a 10-minute qualifying session that sets the grid. Races last for 25 minutes plus one lap, with no mandatory pit stops.
Drivers can earn points for finishing in the top 10, along with bonus points for pole position and setting the fastest lap.
Indian Racing League Teams and Drivers
This season, the league has attracted several big names from entertainment and sports. John Abraham (Goa Aces), Sourav Ganguly (Rarh Bengal Tigers), Naga Chaitanya (Hyderabad Blackbirds), and Arjun Kapoor (Speed Demons Delhi) have all joined as team owners.
The grid features a mix of seasoned international stars like former Le Mans winner Neel Jani and Aston Martin academy racer Akhil Rabindra, alongside top Indian talent like LGB F4 champion Ruhaan Alva and MRF Formula 200 winner Sandeep Kumar.
| Team | Drivers |
|---|---|
| Rarh Bengal Tigers | Ruhaan Alva, Nikhil Bohra, Alister Yoong, Fabienne Wohlwend |
| Chennai Turbo Riders | Mohamed Ryan, Sandeep Kumar, Jon Lancaster, Emily Duggan |
| Speed Demons Delhi | Akash Gowda, Sai Sanjay, Alvaro Parente, Angelique Detavernier |
| Bangalore Speedsters | Kyle Kumaran, Rishon Rajeev, Julius Dinesen, Caitlin Wood |
| Goa Aces | Sohil Shah, Shahan Ali Mohsin, Raoul Kyman, Gabriela Jilkova |
| Hyderabad Blackbirds | Akhil Rabindra, Anindith Reddy, Neel Jani, Laura Camps |
F4 India: Format, Teams, and Drivers
F4 India serves as the first step on the single-seater ladder and awards Super Licence points, crucial for aspiring F1 drivers. The championship uses FIA-homologated Gen 2 Mygale F4 cars, powered by an Alpine 1.3-litre turbocharged engine prepared by Oreca, delivering 160-180hp depending on the FIA’s power-weight formula.
Supported by MP Motorsport, a leading junior racing team, and organized by Racing Promotions Private Limited (RPPL), the F4 India Championship gives young Indian drivers the opportunity to compete against international talent. Select students from United Motorsports Academy also earn fully sponsored work placements in the championship.
Each round features three races. Qualifying 1 on Saturday determines the grid for Race 1, while Qualifying 2 sets the grid for Race 3. The grid for Race 2 is based on the reverse top-six finishers from Race 1.
F4 India Teams and Drivers
The F4 Indian Championship has eight teams, with 14 drivers confirmed so far, including Ruhaan Alva and 2024 MRF Formula 2000 champion Jaden Pariat. Earlier this year, the inaugural F4 Global Shootout Program selected Giancarlo Artho from Australia as the top prize winner, earning him a full scholarship for the 2024 F4 India season with team Goa Aces.
| Team | Drivers |
|---|---|
| Rarh Bengal Tigers | Tarun Muthiaiah, Ruhaan Alva |
| Chennai Turbo Riders | Isaac Demellweek, Jayden Hamilton |
| Speed Demons Delhi | Zakariya Mohammed, Alba Hurup Larsen |
| Bangalore Speedsters | Abhay Mohan, Jaden Pariat |
| Goa Aces | Giancarlo Artho, Aiva Alexis Anagnostiadis |
| Hyderabad Blackbirds | Shriya Lohia, Aquil Alibhai |
| Godspeed Kochi | Hugh Barter |
| Ahmedabad Apex Racers | Veer Amar Sheth |
Where to Watch the Indian Racing League and F4 India
All races will be streamed live on FanCode and broadcast on Star Sports Select 2. For those eager to catch the action live, tickets are available on Paytm Insider.
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