Tag: Indian Racing League

Sports

Indian Racing Festival Makes Goa Debut with High-Octane Formula Street Race Weekend

Tanisha Cardozo

The Indian Racing Festival is set to break new ground this February with its first-ever Goa edition, transforming the state into a motorsport hub for a high-octane Formula Street Race Weekend. Scheduled for February 14 and 15, 2026, the event will see Round 4 of the Indian Racing League unfold at Manohar International Airport, marking a significant milestone in the festival’s rapid rise. The races will be broadcast on Star Sports Select 2 and streamed live on JioHotstar, ensuring nationwide visibility.

At the centre of the spectacle is a specially designed FIA-grade street circuit measuring 2.064 kilometres. Carved into the expansive airport layout, the track features 12 challenging turns designed to promote close racing, late braking, and constant position battles, setting the stage for an intense and unpredictable weekend.

The Goa Street Race comes at a crucial point in the championship, with only narrow margins separating the leading teams. Every lap around the Goa circuit is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the title fight. All teams will compete in identical Ligier JS F422 cars powered by a 1.3-litre turbocharged Alpine engine, ensuring that driver skill, strategy, and consistency take precedence over raw speed.

A defining feature of the Indian Racing League is its inclusive team structure. Each team fields four drivers comprising an experienced international racer, an emerging global talent, an Indian driver, and a female competitor. This format is aimed at raising competitive standards while nurturing Indian talent and promoting gender representation at the highest level of circuit racing in the country.

Among the drivers to watch in Goa is Divy Nandan of Hyderabad Black Birds, who arrives with experience in British F4 and GB3, along with a pole position at the Chennai Street Race during the 2024 F4 India Championship. Chennai Turbo Riders will rely on reigning Formula 4 India champion Aqil Alibhai, who brings African representation to the grid, reflecting the series’ growing international footprint. Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru will look to Ruhaan Alva, the youngest race winner in IRL history and one of India’s most promising racing prospects.

European experience is led by Tom Canning of Kolkata Royal Tigers, a British GT champion and Aston Martin Academy graduate, alongside Jemma Moore, who brings GT4 and endurance racing pedigree. Adding star power off the track is an impressive roster of team owners from sport and cinema, including John Abraham with Goa Aces JA Racing, Arjun Kapoor with Speed Demons Delhi, Sourav Ganguly with Kolkata Royal Tigers, Naga Chaitanya with Hyderabad Black Birds, and Kichcha Sudeep with Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru.

Beyond championship points and podium finishes, the Goa Street Race represents a statement of intent for the Indian Racing Festival. By bringing street racing to one of India’s most recognisable destinations, the festival signals its ambition to blend elite motorsport with spectacle and accessibility, positioning racing as both a sporting and cultural experience.

Tickets for the historic Goa Street Race are available on the District by Zomato app and website. Promoted by Racing Promotions Private Limited, the Indian Racing Festival continues to expand the reach of motorsport in India, following successful street races in Chennai and Hyderabad, while maintaining high standards of safety, operations, and fan engagement.

Automobiles

Indian Racing Festival Set for Historic Street Race Debut in Goa on February 14–15

allycaralgoa

National, January 20: The Indian Racing Festival (IRF) is all set to make its much-anticipated Goa debut with a high-adrenaline Formula Street Race Weekend scheduled for February 14–15, as Round 4 of the championship unfolds at the Manohar International Airport. The announcement was made by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, marking a landmark moment for motorsport in the state.

Following an action-packed Round 3 at the Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore, the championship now heads west as the title battle intensifies. Goa will host a historic FIA-grade street circuit, making its debut as one of the most visually striking and technically demanding tracks in the country.

The 2.064 km circuit, featuring 12 turns, has been specially designed to deliver thrilling racing while offering spectators unmatched accessibility. The layout promises a unique blend of speed, precision, and spectacle, bringing top-tier motorsport to Goan streets for the very first time.

Welcoming the event, Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant said:
“Hosting a motorsport event of this scale underscores Goa’s capability to stage world-class sports and entertainment experiences. The Formula Racing will drive tourism, create opportunities for local businesses, and open new avenues for youth to explore careers in engineering, technology, event management, and motorsport operations.”

The Indian Racing Festival is also a pioneer of inclusivity in motorsport. Each team fields four drivers—an international veteran, an emerging international driver, an Indian driver, and a female driver—ensuring diversity and collaboration across nationalities and genders.

Street racing remains central to IRF’s vision of redefining motorsport in India. Building on successful street races in Hyderabad and Chennai, Racing Promotions Pvt. Ltd. (RPPL) continues to push boundaries by blending international-grade circuits, advanced engineering, and immersive fan experiences.

Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman & Managing Director, RPPL, said:
“Street circuits represent the next frontier for Indian motorsport. They bring the action closer to fans and transform how cities engage with racing. The Goa round is a major step forward in this journey.”

Adding glamour to the championship is a lineup of celebrity team owners, including John Abraham, Arjun Kapoor, Sourav Ganguly, Naga Chaitanya, Kichcha Sudeep, and Dr. Swetha Sundeep Anand, further elevating the festival’s appeal.

After Round 3, Speed Demons Delhi lead the standings with 82 points, followed closely by Hyderabad Black Birds (81 points) and Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru (72 points). With the top teams separated by narrow margins, the battle for supremacy is expected to intensify in Goa.

Tickets will soon be available on the District by Zomato app. Fans across India can also catch the action live on Star Sports Select 2 and via digital streaming on JioHotstar.

Powered by JK Tyre, fuelled by Nayara, and performance by Mobil1, the Indian Racing Festival continues to accelerate India’s motorsport revolution—bringing world-class racing to the heart of its cities.

Events in Goa

Goa Street Race 2025: India’s First Oceanfront Circuit Announced for IRF Round 4in Mormugao

Tanisha Cardozo

In a major milestone for Indian motorsport, Goa has officially been announced as the host for the fourth round of the 2025 Indian Racing Festival. Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant revealed that a 3.2 km street circuit along the scenic Headland-Sada coastline in Mormugao will become the venue for the Goa Street Race 2025, scheduled from October 31 to November 2, 2025.

This unique event marks the debut of South Asia’s first oceanfront racetrack — a landmark development in India’s push to become a global motorsport destination. The circuit will challenge racers with tight urban turns, sweeping seaside straights, and salt-laden winds – delivering a technical and visual spectacle. As the third city-based street circuit in the Indian Racing Festival, following Hyderabad and Chennai, Goa’s entry solidifies IRF’s ambitious vision of bringing high-octane motorsport to urban India.

Two premier racing championships will headline the event — the Indian Racing League (IRL) and the Formula 4 Indian Championship (F4IC). The IRL is the world’s first gender-neutral motorsport league, featuring six city-based teams and an inclusive grid of global and Indian talent. F4IC, FIA-certified and FMSCI-approved, is India’s gateway for young drivers aiming to progress into international single-seater racing.

Celebrity presence adds another layer of glamour, with team owners including John Abraham (Goa Aces JA Racing), Arjun Kapoor (Speed Demons Delhi), Sourav Ganguly (Kolkata Royal Tigers), Sudeep Kichcha (Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru), Naga Chaitanya (Hyderabad Blackbirds), and Dr. Swetha Sundeep Anand (Chennai Turbo Riders).

Drivers such as Alvaro Parente, Raoul Hyman, Neel Jani, Jon Lancaster, Fabienne Wohlwend, Sohil Shah, Ruhaan Alva, and Laura Camps Torras will electrify the streets of Mormugao. The festival not only boosts India’s motorsport credentials but serves as an economic catalyst, drawing thousands of spectators, media, and sponsors. With support from the Goa Tourism Department, JK Tyre, Nayara Energy, Mobil1, and Bisleri, the event will generate jobs, promote high-value tourism, and create a legacy for future international sporting events in the region.

Tickets will be available via the District app later this month, and the event will be broadcast live on Star Sports Select 2 and JioHotstar.

As Dr. Sawant declared, “Goa is ready to host the world.”