2024 Indian Racing Festival: Set for High-Stakes Finale as Top Teams Battle for Championship Glory at Kari Motor Speedway over the weekend

Coimbatore, November 15: Leaders Shrachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers will be going toe-to-toe with Goa Aces JA Racing for the team honours as the 2024 Indian Racing Festival, promoted by Racing Promotions Pvt Ltd, reaches a grand climax with the fifth and final round at the Kari Motor Speedway circuit here this weekend.

With just eight points separating top two in the provisional standings and a maximum of 54 on offer across the double-header in the Indian Racing League, the stakes are high for both teams.

“Our goal with the Indian Racing Festival has always been to bring world-class motorsport to India, and this weekend’s grand finale at Kari Motor Speedway is a proud testament to that vision. What makes this edition even more special is the incredible presence of celebrity team owners, whose passion for the sport and massive fan base have helped elevate the festival to new heights. Their engagement has broadened the reach of the league, making the motorsport more mainstream and widespread. With the
championship race so tightly contested, we can expect some of the most thrilling and close finishes yet, making this final round a true spectacle.

As we look ahead, we’re excited to expand the sport to new cities and explore innovative experiences like night street racing, ensuring that the IRF continues to grow and connect with motorsport fans across the country,” said Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director, RPPL.

The Goa Aces, riding on their fine performances with their leading drivers Sohil Shah and Raoul Hyman are fast closing gaps with Shrachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers, who have been on the top of the table since Round 1 of the league.

Chennai Turbo Riders, despite winning four of the eight races, are provisionally third on the leaderboard having dropped a lot of points midway through the season followed by Speed Demons Delhi, Bangalore Speedsters and Blackbirds Hyderabad complete the Championship table respectively. The two-day Indian Racing Festival, sponsored by Kingfisher Soda, JK Tyres, Mobil 1 and Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Limited, also includes triple-headers in FIA- certified Formula 4 Indian Championship and the JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship (LGB Formula 4), besides the Royal Enfield GT Cup, with all the actions coming LIVE on Star Sports and Fan Code.

FORMULA 4 INDIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

With three races scheduled for the final round, the title is wide open in the FIA-certified Formula 4 Indian Championship. Heading the leaderboard is South Africa’s Aqil Alibhai

(Blackbirds Hyderabad) with five wins, including a stunning sequence of four back-to- back victories that put him clear of Ruhaan Alva (Shrachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers) by 32 points. The 12 races thus far have produced five different winners so far.

Alibhai has maintained a commanding lead, showcasing exceptional speed and racecraft throughout the season. Alva, currently third in the championship, has demonstrated remarkable skill and resilience, emerging as a standout Indian talent despite facing several setbacks.

Divy Nandan, meanwhile, has also impressed with his tenacity and precision on the track, securing three podiums en route to the final race. Together, these drivers have brought intensity and excitement to the championship, making each race a thrilling display of talent. The three front-runners need to be on the lookout for a clutch of drivers who, on their day, can pull off a surprise or two. Thus, the scenario points to another exciting weekend of wheel-to-wheel racing.

27th JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship

Overall, it has been a story of domination by Dark Don Racing drivers who have won seven of the nine races. So much so that Dark Don is assured of the team championship crown as they have an unassailable lead over second-placed MSPORT. Bengaluru’s Tijil Rao currently leads the championship as he emerged as the top driver for Dark Don Racing with three wins. Going into this weekend’s final round, he enjoys a commanding 32-point advantage over his team-mates Diljith TS and Bala Prasath, both having won two races apiece, and are tied second on the leaderboard. The other two wins were chalked up by Bengalureans, Abhay Mohan (MSPORT) and Chetan Surineni (Ahura Racing), but neither is a strong contender for the title as they are placed fifth and sixth, respectively, behind Kolkata’s Mehul Agarwal (Dark Don Racing).

In the Rookie category, Bengaluru’s Dhruvh Goswami (MSPORT) and Abhay Mohan are separated by just one point while Chennai youngster Monith Kumaran Srinivasan (Ahura Racing) is a further 13 points adrift.

Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup

The RE GT Cup, a one-make championship, has had its share of thrills and spills over two rounds. Going into the finale, Puducherry’s Navaneeth Kumar (Professionals) and Yogesh P from Bengaluru (Amateurs) head the championship standings with one hand on their respective trophies.