[rubicon]

Chennai Formula Racing Circuit launched, to host India’s first night street races

Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin signed a MOU of 3 years with race promoter Racing Promotions Pvt Ltd (RPPL).

In a first, the Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday launched the Chennai Formula Racing Circuit that will host India’s first night street circuit races on December 9 and 10.

1. Formula 4 Indian Championship
2. The Indian Racing League

The government will fund 42 crores during the event while 200 crores will be invested by RPPL said Akhilesh Reddy, chairman and managing director of RPPL.

The 3.5 km layout will be the longest street circuit in India and South Asia that will host a night race, stretching across Island Grounds, Victory War Memorial and the Napier Bridge in the city. The circuit follows an anti-clockwise layout and features 19 corners.


F4 Indian Championship :

The Formula 4 championship, FIA certified, will have 12 drivers – Indian and International – participating in the race that will have FIA super license points enabled in an individual driver racing championship format like Formula One.

The series will use the FIA-homologated Gen 2 Mygale F4 car, which is used in the French F4 championship. The cars are powered by an Alpine Renault 1.3-litre turbocharged engine which will run on speeds above 220 kph.


Indian Racing League - a franchise-based motorsports league :

The league will be a team-based format with four drivers per team – two Indians and as many internationals including one mandatory female driver.

The car that fuels the adrenaline rush in this league is the Wolf GB08. This speed beast is powered by a 1.0-litre Aprilia RSV4 Engine, capable of producing 201hp.

[shankar.balan]

This will be fun I am sure.
How does one get to watch? Are there some tickets and all? Or is it a typical free for all standing on the sidelines and peering at the race? Perhaps it might be better to watch on TV, considering the likely crowds.

[RM Motorsports]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

This will be fun I am sure.
How does one get to watch? Are there some tickets and all? Or is it a typical free for all standing on the sidelines and peering at the race? Perhaps it might be better to watch on TV, considering the likely crowds.

Viewing galleries with total capacity of 10,000 people to be set up at 11 locations. Ticket costs start at Rs 1000 and goes upto Rs 30,000.

[RM Motorsports]

Tickets for India's first night race in at the Chennai Formula Street Circuit on Dec 9-10 are out now!

https://insider.in/indian-racing-fes...-circuit/event

Venue: Anna Salai Mount Road, The Island, Park Town, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600003

[thirdmainroad]

Did anyone visit this? Any photos and videos? The race finally happened 31 Aug - 1 Sept!

[rkv_2401]

I was there on Sunday in grand stand 1, watched about 5 of the 6 races (missed half of the first F4 race). Every race had at least one safety car, unfortunately, which messed the timing up and led to the final race finishing at ~11:30 instead of the scheduled ~10:30.

The first sequence of races were pretty boring, safety car was out for ~5 laps out of 8 in the Formula LGB race, I didn't catch the first F4 race, and the Indian Racing League was full of sequential finishes by varying teams (the Goa team finished 1-2, Bengal team 3-4, Chennai finished 5 and the other Chennai car DNFed). The lady in 2nd place had a great defensive drive, but the fact that 3rd and 4th place couldn't pass a damaged car that was 9 seconds off the lead around 8-10 laps in was pretty disappointing. The other Chennai car was looking racy, but got in an incident early on with the 2nd Goa car and DNFed.

But the second sequence of races, once the track had rubbered in, was great fun! Formula LGB had a thriller of a battle for first place that was only decided by a mistake by the leading driver on the penultimate/last lap. Indian F4 had Hugh Barter storming up the field, setting laps that were a second a lap faster than pole, getting from 18th to 5th before a racing incident left him in the wall. He stormed back to 5th, making up 20s and setting laps that were 2s faster than pole in a damaged car, and this was exhilarating to watch. The final Indian Racing League race was really good too, with another battle for the lead decided in the closing laps, this time by a much more experienced and accomplished driver who was waiting till the end to pounce, and did so in an unorthodox way but got the position and the race win.

Marina and the Island Ground circuit looked absolutely beautiful in the sunset and night-time drone shots, comparable to even the most scenic of street circuits such as Singapore in some shots. And from what I heard and saw of the drivers, the track was challenging enough and enjoyable to race on. Hugh Barter, who has raced in Monaco, said this was up there among his favorite circuits to race on. His electrifying pace and ability to overtake at unorthodox places backs this up, too. Future iterations of this track will be something to keep an eye out on.

Here's an onboard of the track: https://x.com/TamilNaduInfra/status/1830234924080935257

This car is reported to be able to touch a top speed of 240+km/hr on this track!!

[rohitoasis]

For the last hour i was sitting at the Chennai airport next to the winner of the event. I saw the bell helmet and then something struck me and I got reminded of this thread. Quick Google search later, Realised he was the winner.

Hugh Barter ladies and gentlemen. The winner of the event. His achievements seem to be really impressive. Such a nice and humble person. Wished him the best.
Hope he achieves greater heights.