The 2025 Indian Racing Festival roared to life at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore, marking a thrilling start to the new season. The opening round was a showcase of intense competition across multiple championships, with new stars emerging and established names fighting to defend their titles.
International talent shone in the F4 Indian Championship, where Greece’s Vasilis Apostolidis of the Hyderabad Blackbirds mastered a wet track to convert pole position into a victory in Race 1. He was followed by Chennai Turbo Riders’ Shane Chandaria and Kolkata Royal Tigers’ Ishaan Madesh, who battled fiercely for the podium. Madesh swiftly turned the tables just hours later, executing a stunning launch in Race 2 to surge from fourth to first and secure a breakthrough win for the Kolkata Royal Tigers. French driver Sachel Rotge (Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru) and the ever-consistent Apostolidis completed the top three.
The action continued in the Indian Racing League (IRL), where reigning drivers’ champion Raoul Hyman of Goa Aces began his title defense in dominant fashion. After inheriting pole position, he held off intense pressure to claim the Race 1 win. Kyle Kumaran (Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru) staged a remarkable recovery from P11 to finish second, with reigning F4 India champion Aqil Alibhai (Chennai Turbo Riders) taking third. Race 2 delivered a dramatic shift in fortunes, as Speed Demons Delhi’s Sai Sanjay seized the lead from a fading Akshay Bohra to take a commanding victory. Fabienne Wohlwend (Goa Aces) finished second, while motorsport veteran Neel Jani (Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru) overcame a mechanical issue to snatch the final podium spot on the last lap.
In the JK Tyre LGB F4 category, Diljit TS established an early lead in the championship standings by winning two of the weekend’s three races. As the festival moves on, the battles across all series promise to intensify, setting the stage for an electrifying season of motorsport.
