INDIA in F1

Category: Le Mans

  • FIA ropes in Mumbai Falcons for World Karting meet

    FIA ropes in Mumbai Falcons for World Karting meet

    The FIA announces an official partnership with Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited to support the FIA Karting World Championships in 2022

    Le Mans, 24 August 2022: Mumbai Falcons becomes the official partner of FIA CIK Karting World Championship, FIA announced on Wednesday.

    The Le Mans event will feature over 300 drivers competing in categories including the KZ World Championship, the KZ2 World Cup, the KZ2 Masters Super Cup, the Academy Trophy and demonstrations runs in the Historic Super Cup.

    Mumbai Falcons plan to develop a world-class racing and karting facility in India which will serve as a hub for motorsport. Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited was founded in 2019 by the Gadhoke Group with the objective of developing a next-generation, sustainable motorsport team and to accelerate growth in the Indian motorsport landscape. 

    The team is part of Racing Promotion Private Limited, the promoter and organiser of the newly-created Formula Regional Indian Championship and the Formula 4 Indian Championship, due to launch at the end of 2022. Both championships are certified by the FIA.

    Mumbai Falcons will be an official partner for the 2022 FIA Karting World Championship events at Le Mans, France from September 1-4 and Sarno, Italy from September 15-18. The agreement also includes official partner status for two World and four European Championship events in 2023. 

    FIA Karting Commission President, Akbar Ebrahim said: “Guided by the new Presidential team at the FIA, one of the missions is to double motorsport participation and cultivate awareness and engagement in under-developed and developing territories. It is my goal as President of the FIA Karting Commission to harness the passion and enthusiasm among youngsters and guide them on the pathway to a career in motorsport with karting as the first step on that journey. 

    The collaboration with Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited is central to that mission, particularly in a country like India, where the capacity for growth is enormous. We are seeking to provide cost-effective entry points and offer training, operational and technical support in order to expand the FIA Karting footprint globally in alignment with the FIA’s over-arching commitment to expansion.”

    Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited CEO, Moid Tungekar said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity of partnering with the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile  for the 2022 and 2023 FIA World Karting Championship. Karting is the first essential step when entering into motorsport and is responsible for teaching drivers and teams race craft.

    “We at MFRL are focusing on developing international standard infrastructure and providing world class facilities to facilitate the growth of motorsport within our nation.  The Gadhoke Group founder, Ameet Gadhoke, has an ambitious vision to create a world champion Indian driver in the near future and to make India a destination for motorsport developmental activities. We thank the FIA for their trust, support, guidance and look forward to a long and prosperous partnership.”   

  • Parth Ghorpade joins TS Corse to race in 2022 Le Mans Cup

    Parth Ghorpade joins TS Corse to race in 2022 Le Mans Cup

    Parth Ghorpade returns to racing in 2022 as he joins TS Corse to compete in Michelin Le Mans Cup.

    Following his last run in 2019 in the Ultimate Cup Series, Ghorpade will mark his return to racing in 2022 in the Michelin Le Mans Cup with Italian outfit TS Corse in the LMP3 category.

    Ghorpade will drive the #73 Duqueine M30 – D08 machine alongside Pietro Peccenini from Round 2 onward at Imola on May 14. The first round took place at Circuit Paul Ricard, with four more rounds to come.

    Post the Imola weekend, the Le Mans double-header round will take place on June 9 and June 11, with Monza to follow on July 2, Spa-Francorchamps on September 24 and the finale at Algarve on October 15.

  • Arjun Maini to take part in Asian Le Mans for HRT

    Arjun Maini to take part in Asian Le Mans for HRT

    Dubai, 8 Feb. 2022: This season, Haupt Racing Team will compete in the Asian Le Mans Series for the first time. The team from Meuspath is set to line up with one Mercedes-AMG GT3 in all four of the series’ races. Alternating at the wheel of the #6 car, with its striking blue and yellow livery, will be Hubert Haupt (GER), Arjun Maini (IND) and Rory Penttinen (FIN). The first race of the season gets underway at 13:30 CET on Saturday, 12th February, at Dubai Autodrome.

    The calendar for the Asian Le Mans Series comprises four races. The opening weekend in Dubai (12th to 13th February) sees the teams contest two four-hour races. One week later (19th to 20th February), the series moves to Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi for another two four-hour races.

    This year’s field features 37 cars, 23 of which – more than ever before – will line up in the GT class. The teams will not only be battling it out for the title in the Asian Le Mans Series, but each class winner will also be rewarded with a starting place at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.

    In Rory Penttinen, HRT has acquired a wealth of experience in the Asian Le Mans Series: The Finn started every one of the races in 2021, winning the Team and Driver titles in the LMP3 class. He will share the cockpit with team owner Hubert Haupt, with Arjun Maini being the third driver: Like Penttinen, the 24 years-old Indian, who drove in the DTM last year, will be making his race debut for Haupt Racing Team in Dubai.

    Hubert Haupt, team owner Haupt Racing Team / HRT #6:
    “I am already hugely looking forward to the Asian Le Mans Series. Four races in two weekends in the Emirates – it is going to be great. The series also offers us a good opportunity to get closer to the organisers, ACO. A start at the 24 Hours of Le Mans could be interesting for us in 2024.”


    Arjun Maini, driver HRT #6:
    “I am really pleased to be driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 again in the Asian Le Mans Series, and to be doing so for an established team like HRT. We have a strong line-up, so we will hopefully be able to produce some strong performances. I Have great memories of the tracks at Dubai and Abu Dhabi where I have driven in earlier Championships and am really looking forward to capitalise on my previous experiences of Endurance racing in Asia and Europe. ”

    Rory Penttinen, driver HRT #6:
    “I have very fond memories of the Asian Le Mans Series, as last year’s victory in the LMP3 class was one of my biggest successes as a racing driver. I would now like to repeat that in the GT class with Hubert and Arjun. With a bit of luck and a top performance, we can do it.”


    Ulrich Fritz, Managing Director of Haupt Racing Team:

    “This is our first time competing in the Asian Le Mans Series, and we will be up against some strong opposition in the GT class. Despite this, we have high hopes, particularly as we have enjoyed great success at Dubai Autodrome in the past. We will work very hard to add to that success now.”