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Category: F4
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Mumbai’s racer Manisha Kelkar, a step away from McLaren seat in GT Cup
Mumbai, 29 Dec. 2021: Mumbai’s Formula-4 racer Manisha Kelkar is one step away from becoming the first Indian woman to win a special McLaren driving seat for the year 2022.
The popular actress passed all the assessment tests organised a few weeks back in the United Kingdom by Formula Woman. The results were announced this weekend, a press release revealed.
‘I am the only Indian to qualify from the worldwide hunt held in the UK.800 women from 16 countries took part making it one of the biggest talent hunts,’ Manisha said. ‘We all had to first pass tough written and fitness tests. Then, I had to showcase my driving technique and skills to inch closer to my dream,’ she added.
Six ladies will earn fully-paid seats to compete in the prestigious McLaren GT Cup Championship in England. Two other Indian girls, who took part in a qualifying session in India itself, are likely to be part of the final round of selection.
Formula Woman founder and CEO Graeme Glew confirmed Manisha’s selection in a mail. ‘Congratulations on becoming one of the select successful finalists. The finals will be held in the UK on March 2 and 3,’ he said.
Manisha has been racing in the Indian National Racing Championship for the last three years. An avid motorsports lover, she has tried her hand at rallying too. She is keen on starting a racing academy to help other girls take up the exciting sport.
‘I have loved to race since I was a kid. It has opened many avenues for me and I want young girls to follow in my footsteps,’ she said, disclosing her future goals.
Manisha is a well-known face in Bollywood. She has acted in several Hindi and Marathi movies and serials and is all set to host a new show on television.
“It is good to see that more women are taking up motorsport seriously. Manisha is passionate about the sport & we wish her the best,” said Rayamond Banajee, former multiple National champion and the brain behind Rayo Racing Academy, where Manisha, sponsored by HPCL, will train in Mumbai for the next two months.
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Rain master Ruhaan Alva graduates to Formula cars in style; F4 beckons
Bengaluru, 18 October 2021: For many of us in motorsports, K1000 is an annual pilgrimage. And everyone has 100 tales to tell, and I am no different after watching over two dozen K1000s, 22 years to be precise, from 1996, many of them doing media or just having fun. In one of the trips back from a K1000 run in Tumkur, I travelled with two young boys one was 9 and his younger sibling 6. I fell sick and had to return on a Saturday itself, but that provided me with a chance to indulge in K1000 stories with one of the drivers of yesteryears, Umakanth Alva, whom I had the pleasure of watching in late nineties. He introduced his elder son into karting, the gateway to racing bigger things. That day, looking at a shy and playful child, I did not realise his potential. But soon his exploits abroad convinced me about the talent of the precocious 11-year old. He is Ruhaan Alva, 15 now, the reigning X30 Karting Senior champion 2021 who came through the ranks by grit and determination. The younger one, Shlok, was naughty then, but now he is unto himself, immersed in things that make him a computer geek.
Ruhaan’s experience in Europe helped him hone his skills in being much smoother as a driver since the grip levels there, are very high. “One small mistake and you will lose time. The top 10 drivers are fighting for one tenth of a second. The changing weather conditions also helped him adapt much faster to the track since it would be cold and slippery early in the morning and then when the sun comes out the grip levels would increase,” said senior Alva, a rally driver, who retired with a bang winning the Mountain Challenge in picturesque Kohima, organised by Nagaland Adventure Motor Sports Association as its inaugural event after its birth in 2001. Alva, was ably navigated by Musa Sherif, who went on to become a legend of a navigator, and their exploits together, and Alva’s with other navigators, were for another story another day. In fact, the famed speedmaster Lohit Urs’, a National rally champion, first car and team was done by Alva as Team Kadur.
Ruhaan Alva, crosses the flag first, but finishes fifth, on his debut at the MMSC MRF Indian National Racing Championship for Cars 2021, Round 1 in Sept. at MMRT. Photos: Shajahan Coming back to Ruhaan, the experience and learning in Europe, he returned to India and proved himself and earned his Second National title as Junior by dint of hard work in 2020. The fickle English weather added another tool in his armoury. So driving in the wet and figuring out different lines, came naturally to him. The Indian conditions offered him different kinds of challenges, though… racing and some, not as much a part of sport. But the youngster, withstood all the pressures of being alone at the top, and despite no congenial atmosphere for racing, he sharpened his skills with a much higher-level of understanding. The machine, the speed, the tyres, the traction, the set-up, all taught him how to excel in sub-optimal conditions. Finding out his pace and the limit, on the only track in Bengaluru at MecoKartopia, and belting out lap after fast lap, needs some discipline which he did exhibit, but at times was frustrated with the kart set-up. “These are part and parcel of the sport. Despite all these, I aim to be calm and try to perform my best,” he said after one of those bad races last year. “But I will be spending a lot of time in the gym to get my fitness levels up as well as some testing and time on the sim,” he concluded.
One for the Album: At the turn of the century a new motorsposrts baby is born in the North East and it was the Southers Stars who won the inaugural NAMSA event. Musa Sherif, left, navigated for Umakanth Alva, who bid goodbye to his rally career on a winning note conquering the mountains in the North East in Feb 2001. Ruhaan moved into Formula cars this year and immediately was at front fighting for a win. He won multiple races in the Formula Junior Racing (FJRS) event held in Coimbatore in May 2021. Recently, in October, he won the second race of the MRF MMSC Formula 1300 category showing pace, after starting from 8th place and understanding of the racing lines despite being a debutant at the 3.712 km Madras Motor Sport Track in Irungattukottai. Logging a penalty for overtaking during yellow flag period and costing him the win is a different matter but he made pundits sit up and take notice. Learning to watch yellow flags, with Madras Motor Sports Club introducing Digital Flags for the first time in the country in National Racing Championship will make his experience of taking flashing yellows to a different level when he visits MMRT, for the next round. Ruhaan won the Best Rookie Award on debut at the track and in the National championship. “It’s not much of a consolation because I know I had the pace and I deserved that win but there is nothing more I can do about it rather than learn and come back stronger,” said a disappointed Bengalurean to INDIAinF1 after the race.
The number of competitors this year has suddenly gone up and the grid for Formula 1300 was full for the MMSC MRF National Racing Championship with drivers being put on the wait list. The same is expected for the JK Novice Championship in Formula LGB 1300 as well as LGB F4 with drivers on the wait list.
This bodes well for the sport and with the Mumbai Falcons announcement of the F4 Indian Championship,run along with the F3 Regional Championship this year the sport is looking to grow. The Rotax Indian National Championship also has a record number of entries expected in the Junior and Senior categories.
Ruhaan said: “It’s a big difference moving into Formula LGB, especially getting used to the gearbox, the brakes and the longer wheel-base making the handling very differentcompared to a kart.”
This website wishes Ruhaan Alva, the very best, and would like to see him graduate into F4 and up the ladder for better racing.
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UAE-based Indian Anshul Gandhi to race in Spanish F4
By David Bodapati
Bengaluru, 8 Sept 2021: Jodhpur-born Indian racing teen, Anshul Gandhi, all of sweet 16, has joined GRS Team and is scheduled to make his single-seater debut in the Round 5 of Formula 4 Spanish Championship, which takes place from September 18 to 19 in Ricardo Tormo Circuit, Valencia, just a few kilometres away from his new team’s base, the GRS team said today.
The Rajasthani currently living in UAE, had earlier qualified for the IAME X30 one-make karting World Juniors, after winning the 2019-20 UAE IAME X30 Junior championship, which unfortunately were cancelled due to the world-wide COVID travel restrictions.
This year he made it to the two Karting World Finals winning 2020-21 UAE Rotax Max Challenge DD2 Championship and as a runner-up in UAE IAME X 30 Senior Championship. World finals are scheduled later in the year in October for IAME in Italy, and in December for Rotax in Bahrain.
Anshul recently took part in Rotax Max Challenge International Trophy at Le Mans, France and was the only Indian among 216 drivers from 30 countries, making sure that the Tri-colour was on display at the venue along with other major motorsporting giants.
The GRS team in a statement on Wednesday said: “It is with great pleasure for GRS Team to announce the arrival of Indian driver Anshul Gandhi to the team. The young driver will make his single-seater debut in the Formula 4 Spanish Championship season at Ricardo Tormo Circuit, in Valencia”. His teammate at the F4 Spanish event will be Ryabov.
“Throughout the year, Gandhi has participated in testing sessions with GRS Team, allowing him to know team and to prepare his racing debut. The job done so far has been satisfactory and the team is looking forward to welcoming Gandhi in Valencia and to offering him the best service on his maiden formula race,” the team added.
Anshul Gandhi with team GRS. Photo courtesy Twitter @GRSteam_ “I have been testing with GRS for the last few months and the progress has been really promising. The team’s support and guidance really helped me smoothly transition from Karting to single seater. I am really excited and looking forward to my debut race in Formula 4 at Valencia in the ongoing Spanish F4 Championship. I would like to take this opportunity to thank GRS Team Principal, Josep, his team and my coach, Álvaro Barba for their continued support and guidance,” said Anshul Gandhi.
Eldest of the two Barba Lopez brothers, the former Spanish F3 race winner is an accomplished racing driver with high credentials and experience in high-performance coaching required at this level and the Indian, who moved to UAE looking for better pastures in Motorsports, is expected to shift gears and move up to competition in Europe, generally considered as a breeding ground for budding `speed’ aspirants.
Josep Trinidad, CEO & Team Principal said: “We are very excited to receive and welcome Anshul into the team. Having two cars on track will help us to improve the overall performance. The relationship and the job done with Gandhi have been positive since Day, so we are convinced we will perform really well in Valencia”.
GRS will face the next round of Formula 4 Spanish Championship with two cars on track, something that will definitely be helpful for both competitors. The team is evolving and improving at a fantastic rate throughout the season and the presence of a new driver proves that a good job is being done.
You can follow Anshul on Instagram at @anshul_g18 and Twitter @anshulg_18
or at INDIAinF1.com, your website for all Indian motorsports activities.
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Flamboyant Kapil Dev, fastest Indian Karthikeyan star in glittering launch
Mumbai, 19 August 2021: A whiff of fresh air is expected to make Indian motorsports vibrant with the arrival of Formula Regional Indian Championship and Formula 4 Indian Championship announced through a glittering launch with promises to bring brand new Formula cars.
The good news, in these difficult times of COVID, can pump some high-octane upgrades into the dying motorsport machines in India. That requires loads of money and Indian motorsport should be thankful that the two ace Indian racing stars, Aditya Patel and Armaan Ebrahim, found and roped in two other Good Samaritans. The arrival of these goodies from Europe as promised would be a historic milestone and a turning point in the history of Indian motorsports. We fervently hope, this partnership lasts long… without any hiccups and the duo seem keen to sort out the flaws that cropped up earlier.
INDIAinF1.com would like to present a simple gist of points given by respected senior motorsport journalist Vinayak Pande. The official press release follows:
Cricket’s legedendary fast bowler & `sixer’ Kapil Dev, left, and Narain Karthikeyan (India’s first F1 driver dubbed as the fastest Indian in the world) right, during the Press Conference of Formula Regional Indian Championship Launch in Mumbai. Popular sports anchor Suhail Chandhok, brother of Karun Chandhok, the only other F1 driver from India is next to Kapil. Vinayak Pande (Instgram) post: Oh I’m going to post more about this, you can take that to the bank. But for the time being, salient points which many would already know of.
– FIA (global motorsport’s governing body) sanctioned Regional F3 (not the same spec as FIA F3) and F4 championships to be held in India over five rounds from late February to late March of 2022.
– An FIA superlicense is the golden ticket for a driver to be eligible to race in Formula 1 (no guarantee of it). These two championships will give drivers the chance to score points towards that goal. Forty points over a period of three years gets you that FIA superlicense.
– Indian F4 superlicense points spread over the top seven places in the final points standings: 12, 10, 7, 5, 3, 2, 1.
– Formula Regional India superlicense points across the top nine places in the final points standings: 18, 14, 12, 10, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1.
– Cars for both championships built to FIA global standards for Formula Regional and Formula 4.
– F4 India champion gets free seat in Formula Regional India and F-Regional India champion gets a free seat in F3 Asia (same spec car as F-Regional India).
– Pre-season testing at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) near Greater Noida on February 23-24, 2022. Five round season starts on February 25-27 at the BIC, concludes at an FIA grade 2 street circuit in Hyderabad on 25-27 March.
– The majority of the drivers in Formula Regional India will be foreign drivers including from Europe while the majority of the grid in Formula 4 India will feature Indian drivers.
– More details to come soon, but so far it can be confirmed that the budget for Formula Regional India will be around 150,000 euros. (INR 1.3 crore)
I wish I can produce the speeds of this rubber with my cherry! Kapil seems to be thinking… before he reveals the car along with the co-mastermind of the whole show, Aditya Patel, at the Press Conference of Formula Regional Indian Championship Launch held at Taj lands End in Mumbai on 19th August 2021. Photo from IRL – Akhilesh Reddy and Navjeet Ghadoke are equal partners in Racing Promotions Private Limited, which will be promoter of the two series. Reddy said the commitment to the two series is for five years at least. Would be cool if it lasts even that long.
Official Press Release
Promoted by Navjeet Gadhoke of Roadway Solutions India Infra Ltd and Akhilesh Reddy of Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd, RPPL plans to invest towards manufacturing cars, assets and street circuit infrastructure, along with the operational cost of the formula regional Indian championship and formula 4 Indian championship, and relaunching the city-based league as Indian Racing League.
The new innings of Racing Promotions herald the new era of long-term racing culture in India with races planned across the country. In the coming months, Racing Promotions Pvt Ltd would host Formula Regional Indian Championship and Formula 4 Indian Championship, certified by the FIA. RPPL is also looking forward to relaunching the city-based league as the “Indian Racing League” in Q1 2022. Also on the schedule is India’s First-Ever FIA Graded Street Circuit in Hyderabad!
With Navjeet Gadhoke and Akhilesh Reddy committed to investing in the long-term development of motorsports and creating a platform for aspiring racing drivers in India, the first season of racing would kick off on Feb-March 22 in New Delhi, Chennai, Coimbatore and Hyderabad, and attract global racing talents as well.Speaking about the Racing Promotions current endeavours Mr Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman, Racing Promotions stated “Monaco being a sovereign city-state has produced F1 drivers, and we as a country of a billion-plus now have the platform to give aspiring racing drivers the opportunity to compete with the best in the world and potentially a stepping stone to the apex of motorsports which is F1”
While Mr Navjeet Gadoke, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, RPPL added “Our investment will revolutionize Indian motorsports, and the objective is to build a world-class, holistic ecosystem for motorsports which will become a force to reckon with, not just for this sport, but Indian sports in general.”Present on the launch, Joint MD, RPPL, Armaan Ebrahim reflected “It is great to finally have world-class equipment and race cars on our home soil. We welcome Akhilesh and Navjeet to our company, and look forward to building a series of championships that enable Indian drivers to compete at the highest level globally and will make Indians a force to reckon with in the motorsport world.”
Commenting on the launch FMSCI, President said “The introduction of the Formula Regional India certified by the FIA to be followed by the F4 India certified by the FIA is certainly a landmark moment for Indian Motorsport, the FMSCI and the promoters, Racing Promotions Pvt Ltd. (RPPL). The FIA Single Seater Commission and the FIA World Motorsport Council approved the two championships last month. Not only will both these championships provide a truly International platform for Indian drivers who can now race at the International level competing against International drivers in their own country, but it also comes with a huge bonus package which is the FIA Driver points. The FMSCI would like to congratulate Mr. Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman RPPL, Mr Navjeet Gadhoke, Vice Chairman, RPPL and the entire Racing Promotions team for putting together such a phenomenal package which will take Indian Motorsport to much higher echelons.”Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd
(MEIL) is a 30-year behemoth in manufacturing and infrastructure, headquartered in Hyderabad, and operating in 8 other countries outside India. MEIL has an order book of ~$15Bn and net revenue of $3Bn. The organization has diversified to five other verticals namely Irrigation, Drinking Water, Power, Hydrocarbons, Transportation and General Infrastructure.
Roadway Solution India Infra Ltd (RSIPL) is part of the Gadhoke Group, an infrastructure conglomerate with over 50 years of experience and $1.5Bn Enterprise Value.
Racing Promotions Private Limited is the exclusive rights holder of 4W motorsports in India and launched a city-based league in 2019. -
Yash Aradhya suffers a massive puncture, but raring to go for Sunday’s race
Bengaluru, 3 October 2020: Promising teenager and multiple National champion Yash Aradhya made his international debut at the FFSA French F4 Championship today.
The massive puncture on his Pirelli tyre cut short his opening stint but that has not dampened the spirit of the 18-year-old Bengalurean as he is looking forward to the race on Sunday at Paul Ricardo circuit in Le Castellet, France. Before his first race ended after four laps, the Indian racer was in P8 and with two retirements ahead of him would have at least got a probable P6, which was not to be. But the race did show that he had the pace and the skills to take it forward from here. Pirelli is investigating how the puncture had happened. The 20-lap race on Sunday will be at 9.30 am local time and 1 pm IST.
“It’s really good to be out here with some great competition and today wasn’t really good but will get back at it in tomorrow’s race. Keeping today’s incident behind, I am looking forward to doing well in the coming season,” said Aradhya to INDIAinF1 after the race from France.
Yash Aradhya suffers an unfortunate puncture in his international debut as the Pirelli gave way on Saturday. He will race again on Sunday. A Aradhya image The French Federation of Motor Sport Auto Sport Academy known as `FFSA Academy’ is organising the event under the aegis of the International Federation, the FIA, world Motorsports governing body. Aradhya is taking part in the Open Category of the FIA Formula 4 French.
After a successful debut in the JK Tyre National Karting Championship in 2012, Yash has made a terrific progress going through the ranks and graduating to single-seater Formula racing in the National Championship in 2017. He also took part in the F4 South East Asia Championship and did get on to the podium twice, finally getting place 9th in the championship standing which had many senior stalwarts competing for the honours.
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Yash Aradhya to race in French F4
Bengaluru, 30 Sept 2020: Multiple National racing champion Yash Aradhya is all set to race in the French Formula 4 this week-end at Paul Ricardo circuit in Le Castellet, France.
He will be the only Indian in the FIA FFSA French Formula 4 for this season. Yash is also the first Indian motorsport talent to receive the prestigious `Pradhan Mantri Bal Shakthi Puraskar’ in January 2020.
The FIA Formula 4 French is organized by the French Federation of Motor Sport Auto Sport Academy known as `FFSA Academy’ under the aegis of the International Federation, the FIA, world Motorsports governing body.
The 18-year old Aradhya will be participating in the Open Category of the FIA Formula 4 French. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the championship calendar was rescheduled multiple times and finally kick started in August 2020. While Yash hasn’t been able to compete in the first three rounds of the Championship due to Visa related delays, he is all set to participate in the remaining four rounds, thereby, gaining a strong footing for the next year in Europe.
Looking forward to the weekend, Yash said, “Finally the wait is over, I am thankful to my sponsors who stood by me even at this time of adversity and made this a possibility. I am all excited to race in these tracks for the first time, I will focus and learn the tracks, adapt to the car as quickly as possible, I am confident that I will make them and my country proud.”
Sanjay Sharma, Head-Motorsport, JK Tyre said, “Though the entire world is crippled with the pandemic, it is important to see opportunity even in this adversity, that’s how champions are made. However, as the world is slowly regaining feet and so are the sporting events, I’m happy that our boys from India are geared up to make an impression in the global arena. Yash has time and again proved his mettle both in domestic and international racing and we wish him luck for this outing.”
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Sneha Sharma takes lead in women’s category: F4 SEA Championship
Sneha Sharma in Buriram on Sunday 12 May 2019. Photo: Sneha Sharma Buriram (Thailand), 12 May 2019: India’s top woman racer Sneha Sharma jumped into the lead in the ladies’ category after Round 3 of the highly competitive Formula 4 South East Asia Championship, here at the Chang international Circuit, Thailand.
Sneha won the leading trophy in each of the 4 races to grab the Overall Cup for women in the Thailand round. She even clocked the best time of 1:46:6 to finish in the Top Eight against 11 of the finest racers from 10 different countries, most of them from Europe.
The 28-old who is also an airline captain by profession, supported by Indigo Airlines and JK Tyre, raced in a Formula 4 Race car (for Team Mertius) for the first time at Buri Ram but proved to be up for it.
She took part in all four races in the championship and clocked the best time of 1:46:6 with a best Finish of Top 8 in the overall category and top 1 in her category, making her the current leader of her class in the 2019 championship.
The Chang Circuit is famously known for its Moto GP Racing, which has seen the likes of Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez in action. This series of Formula 4 ran alongside the Formula 3 Asia and the Blancpain GT Series, making it one of the biggest events in Asia.
Sneha, one of the first women to break into racing circles in India, took a highly creditable Pole position in Race 2 and P2 in Race 3, giving her the chance to score good points for the overall season.
“I am totally excited with my second international victory this year,” an exultant Sneha said. “I had fun on the track, driving the races back to back and being part of the wheel-to-wheel action all the way till the chequered flag against such competitive drivers.”
She pointed out that a micro-chip in the car analysed her driving all the way to her turning technique, her braking and her top speed which helped her become better with each race. “The data analysis by the engineers and driver coach was amazing. It helped me stay with the pack and put up a great fight,” she explained.
“I was hoping for a good finish in Race 2 in which I began on Pole. But I was hit by another driver and had to work hard to recover and get into the points. I must say it wasn’t easy as the car requires a lot of physical strength, apart from skill to drive.,” she said.
The 4th round of Formula4 SEA is scheduled for June 21, again in Thailand. In all, there will be 7 more rounds through Asia, including 2 in India in July.
“I am already looking forward to the next race weekend. I am working really hard on the simulator, on my physical fitness and mental strength as well. The aim is to dominate my class and get into Top 5 overall for India,” Sneha declared.
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Mad Croc’s Mihaldinecz wins Race 1 in F4-S: Powerboat Racing World Championship
F4 S winner on Saturday. A F1H2O image Amaravati (AP, India) 17 Nov 2018: Veteran driver Rudi Mihaldinecz used all his experience to take victory in the first of this weekend’s two races in the F4-S Championship in Amaravati, the support race for the UIM F1H2O powerboat racing World Championship at Vijayawada on Saturday.
In a highly entertaining race Mad Croc BABA Racing’s Hungarian driver led the race from pole position, but a mistake on lap 4 allowed series debutant Jeff Jelf to take the lead for Team Amaravati which he held onto until lap 12 when yellow flag was raised to allow race marshals to remove the stationary Blaze Performance driver Max Stilz.
At the restart on lap 16 Mihaldinecz immediately jumped Jelf to retake the lead, going on to win the 20-lap race by 5.22s with Jelf in pursuit but coming up short.
The middle order produced a great scrap before and after the yellow, Stilz running in third from F1 Atlantic’s Sam Whittle until both were passed on lap 9 by Victory’s Ahmed Al Fahim.
The yellow flag bunched up the pack with Whittle making up a place after Al Fahim hooked and dropped to sixth, with Emirates Racing’s Tom Chaippe also taking advantage as well as getting the better of Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed Al Mehairbi to move up and take fourth.
For full classifications:
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Ghiretti on top at MMRT but Shepherd ready to challenge next week
Formula 4 cars in action for the first time in Inida at MMRT. An F4 image. Chennai, 2 Septr 2018: In the Formula 4 South East Asia (F4SEA) fueled by Petron it was an interesting weekend at the Madras Motor Race Track as a bizarre turn of events saw the same three winners as the previous event in Sepang but that led to a completely different event championship.
- First Formula 4 Race in India
- Double-header means the action isn’t over yet – Event 4 next week 7-9 September
- International grid from France, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Belgium, Ireland and Australia
- Three races covering 180 kms
- All races live-streamed to Facebook
Alessandro Ghiretti walked away with the Event 3 champion trophy. After having two very unlucky weekends in Sepang where he narrowly missed out on the weekend honours, Ghiretti pulled everything together at Madras and flew off the line, with 71 points for his efforts at the end of Event 3.
Ever present in Ghiretti’s rear view mirror was the blue number three car of Kane Shepherd. Thailand’s Shepherd managed to secure three second places with his consistent driving style netting him 54 points just behind the Frenchman.
Malaysia’s Muizz Musyaffa drew cheers from his nation’s mechanics when he won the final race of the weekend. Driving the yellow car number 23, he was always in the middle of the action, but some bad luck in the first two races landed him with 50 points, third overall, just four points behind Kane.
Irishman Luke Thompson has been steadily improving and now in his second year he’s starting to challenge for podiums doing well enough to bag 30 points and finish fourth on the leaderboard.
Alister Yoong returned to the championship for the Indian legs. Son of the famous Malaysian F1 driver Alex Yoong, Alister has clearly inherited his father’s flare for race craft, and put on an impressive show when he started from the front of the grid, doing well enough to earn 28 points and an overall P5.
Belgium’s Antoine Potty had a fantastic drive in the first race, finishing third overall. But he had less-than-perfect starts in Races two and three, ending his weekend in sixth place, with 23 points. But we’ve seen great things from Potty and we expect him to be back on the podium for the next event.
Hailing from Japan, Ryo Komikado returned to contest Event 3 where he put in several personal bests and showed how much he has improved. With great potential for the next event, Ryo ended this weekend in P7 with 22 points.
The F4 team had a fantastic weekend at Madras and saw some great racing. But the action’s not over yet and the show will go on next week, back at the Madras Motor Race Track, for one more event before the contingent ships out to Thailand.
Pos Driver # Nat Pts
1) Alessandro Ghiretti (R) 28 France 71
2) Kane Shepherd 3 Thailand 54
3) Muizz Musyaffa (R) 23 Malaysia 50
4) Luke Thompson 42 Ireland 30
5) Alister Yoong (R) 22 Malaysia 28
6) Antoine Potty (R) 66 Belgium 23
7) Ryo Komikado (R) 46 Japan 22
8) Aidan Wright 7 Australia 18Leading from the first
Race 1 kick-started this Sunday morning bright and early at 9am. The drivers lined up in their positions from qualifying with Ghiretti on pole, followed by Shepherd and Muizz. As the lights went out, Ghiretti took us down the main straight into Turn 1, diving up the inside to block Shepherd, before returning to the racing line.
But Thompson had a better start than the Malaysian Muizz Musyaffa whom he got past coming into T1 just behind the race leaders, putting France, Thailand, Ireland and Malaysia in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions for a short time.
Muizz knocked on Luke’s door for several laps, but coming out of turn 3 the Malaysian lost his rear and spun round just missing the Australian behind him; fortunately he made a good recovery and returned in P6. From there Ghiretti looked set to take the win with Kane and Luke following suit, but when a safety car was called out, everyone got bunched back up.
Ghiretti had a fantastic restart, pulling away from Shepherd, perhaps due to his qualifying strategy which ensured him fresher tyres than the Thai driver behind him – his main competition for the 2018 driver’s championship. But Luke
Thompson in the pink car number 42 had a terrible turn of events when Ozzie Aidan Wright found a way past him on the first turn. Antoine Potty then piled past on his way up to turn 2, opening the door for Muizz to jump through the inside lane at turn 2. Luckily the Irishman managed to regain the position from Muizz, but dropping from third to fifth in the space of two corners was disheartening and his day wasn’t over yet.
Muizz continued to chip away at Luke’s heels and eventually found a way past. As the chequered flag waved an end to the first F4 race on Indian soil, Alessandro Ghiretti, having led from lap 1, stood at the top of the podium with Kane Shepherd in second and Antoine Potty – who had found his pace during the race – finishing a well-deserved third.
Ghirtetti also bagged the rookie title followed by Potty and Muizz.
Race 1 Results
Pos Driver # Nat Time Fast Stat
1) Alessandro Ghiretti (R) 28 France 00:25:42.565 1:37.901
2) Kane Shepherd 3 Thailand 00:25:44.594 1:37.969
3) Antoine Potty (R) 66 Belgium 00:25:52.451 1:38.657
4) Aidan Wright 7 Australia 00:25:53.105 1:38.520
5) Muizz Musyaffa (R) 23 Malaysia 00:25:53.404 1:38.748
6) Luke Thompson 42 Ireland 00:25:57.030 1:38.758
7) Alister Yoong (R) 22 Malaysia 00:26:26;144 1:40.49
8) Ryo Komikado (R) 46 Japan 00:26:28.960 1:40.685Ghiretti & Shepherd Two for Two
Race 2 saw Alister Yoong in P2 of the reverse grid, just behind Japan’s Ryo Komikado. The Malaysian made a good start jumping up to first, while Irishman Luke Thompson displayed his skill with an amazing start! Moving from third to challenge Yoong for the lead through the first few corners, Luke had to deal with Muizz following right on his tail. Unfortunately for the Malaysian there just wasn’t enough space as Aidan Wright made a move around the outside, and Muizz ended up going through the grass as Alessandro Ghiretti went around Shepherd.
Thompson challenged Yoong for the lead over the next few laps, as the Race 1 winners carved their way through the pack to catch up with the Malaysian and Irishman. Luke tried several moves but couldn’t make anything stick on the rookie driver in front of him and the battle had allowed the blue cars behind them to catch up. So now Thompson had Ghiretti breathing down his neck.
It wasn’t long before the Frenchman made a spectacular move on Luke up the inside of turn 6 and they fought side-by-side through the sweeping right-hand U-turn of curve seven, where Ghiretti pushed Luke off the racing line into the grass and halting his challenge. Car number 42 was airborne for a brief moment, but Luke recovered and rejoined the race behind Shepherd.
Six down, one to go, Ghiretti set his sights on Alister Yoong. The Race 1 winner is ridiculously fast around Madras, and as our driver coach Sandy Stuviq says:
“Alessandro is really really strong under braking. Kane has the better exit in some corners, but Alessandro is really pushing the limit with his braking and that’s where he’s finding the time.”
So it wasn’t long before Ghiretti found a way past the yellow car in front of him. The Frenchman carried a lot more speed through the first corner and got down the inside through turn two, where we’ve seen a lot of overtaking, went through Turn 3 side-by-side with Kane, and Aidan Wright tried a move at the kink.
Alister managed to defend himself and resisted the challenge from Australia’s Aidan Wright that time around. After a stellar drive defending from more experienced drivers, the Malaysian ultimately had to settle for P5 as the chequered flag waved Ghiretti the winner once again ahead of Shepherd and Musyaffa.
Race 2 Results
Pos Driver # Nat Time Fast Stat
1) Alessandro Ghiretti (R) 28 France 00:25:07.949 1:38.713
2) Kane Shepherd 3 Thailand 00:25:10,144 1:38.722
3) Muizz Musyaffa (R) 23 Malaysia 00:25:22.789 1:39.411
4) Luke Thompson 42 Ireland 00:25:27.006 1 :39.163
5) Alister Yoong (R) 22 Malaysia 00:25:38.169 1:40.417
6) Ryo Komikado (R) 46 Japan 00:26:18.261 1:40.852
7) Aidan Wright 7 Australia 00:15:26.352 1:39.356 DNF
8) Antoine Potty (R) 66 Belgium 00:06:37.730 1:41.268 DNFMuizz Victorious for Malaysia
Muizz had a fantastical start at the beginning of Race three, somehow jumping from fourth to second. The Malaysian rookie started on the right side of the grid, which put him on the inside line, setting him up perfectly as the pack went three maybe four wide through Turn 1, pushing Thompson out.
Ryo Komikado did well to hold his position from the fastest drivers on the track, but the tag team of Ghiretti and Shepherd was too much for any man to handle. While Muizz was busy trying to find a way past Alister Yoong, who had come out of the sector on top, the duo sliced past Ryo up the inside through Turn 5 and then again side-by-side for the second time through Turn 7.
Alister was doing well not giving Muizz an inch, but at the end of the lap he ran a little wide coming out of Turn 12. That was all Muizz needed and carrying more speed down the main straight he blitzed past his Malaysian compatriot with Ghiretti in tow. The French driver also tried to make it three for three up the inside of turn one, but didn’t have the space and was forced onto the grass, letting Alister scoop back up second place.
Alessandro managed to recover his car without any fuss, but the time he lost was enough to give his ever-present rival Kane Shepherd the opening he had been looking for all weekend and he danced his way into third, immediately setting his sights on Alister Yoong.
The excitement at the front of the pack produced some sensational racing, and the intense battle for sixth ended with a beached car and double yellows. The Safety Car was deployed just after Kane jumped past Alister, bunching the duo back up and effectively walling off Ghiretti.
But the Frenchman wasn’t going to be stopped and as the chequered flag waved it was Malaysia, Thailand, France – Musyaffa, Shepherd, Ghiretti – First, Second and Third!
Race 3 Results
Pos Driver # Nat Time Fast Stat
1) Muizz Musyaffa (R) 23 Malaysia 00:26:55.151 1:38.639
2) Kane Shepherd 3 Thailand 00:26:55.612 1:38.698
3) Alessandro Ghiretti (R) 28 France 00:26:56.800 1:38.199
4) Alister Yoong (R) 22 Malaysia 00:27:16.582 1:39.686
5) Luke Thompson 42 Ireland 00:27:17.008 1:39.481
6) Antoine Potty (R) 66 Belgium 00:27:17.556 1:39.553
7) Aidan Wright 7 Australia 00:22:42.309 1:38.696 DNF
8) Ryo Komikado (R) 46 Japan 00:0l:52.058 1:48.299 DNF -
F4 South-East Championship debuts in India
- Caterham Asia cars have first run at MMRT
Formula 4 car in action at MMRT on Friday. Photo by Anand Philar Chennai, 31 Aug 2018: The Formula 4 South-East Asia Championship made its debut in India as the FIA-homologated cars had the first feel of the MMRT circuit here on Friday with the drivers enjoying the experience of racing on the “very difficult and technical track”.
Also making its India debut was the Caterham Asia championship whose cars went through a couple of test sessions in the afternoon with the track again receiving the thumbs up from the drivers.
Two rounds of the F4 SEA Championship at the MMRT will be run over two weekends of September 1-2 and September 8-9. Each round comprises three races. The Caterham Asia Championship will be run concurrently on both the weekends with two races in each round.
Testing run of the Caterham championship in progress at MMRT on Friday. Photo by Rahul Reghu The only Indian in Caterham Championship is former FMSCI president Vicky Chandhok who is participating as a guest driver. “I am getting into a proper racing car for the first time since 1993 on invitation from Campbell (Tupling), the CEO of Caterham Asia. It is also the first time I am getting into a Caterham car,” said 62-year old Chandhok who, incidentally, was the second quickest in both the test sessions today.
Campbell said: “It is fabulous to have Vicky Chandhok racing with us. He seems to be enjoying himself.
“This is the first time that Caterham cars have ever raced in India. We all are quite excited. The facilities here at the MMRT are first class, whether it is the pits or the hospitality or the control room. The track is very difficult and technical and our drivers seem to love racing on this track. There are two more days left and we are looking forward to the weekend. As for returning to India next year, it all depends on the drivers.”
