Chennai's Night Circuit Racing Spectacle Concludes on a High Note

Chennai: GB Portuguese veteran Alvaro Parante of Speed Demons Delhi and UK’s Raoul Hyman representing Goa Aces JK Racing held their nerves in a thrilling finish to top the Round 2 of the  Indian Racing League races as the historic first-ever night street races, part of the Indian Racing Festival, concluded at the Island grounds circuit, here on Sunday.

On a day of high drama and wheel-to-wheel action, with plenty of Safety Car periods, the 39-year-old Parante was pushed to the limit by a couple of young Bengalureans, Sohil Shah from Goa Aces JA Racing and Rishon Rajeev of Bangalore Speedsters, before the Portuguese driver used his vast experience to pick up pace at the crucial moment towards the fag end of the race for a fine win. 

Shah briefly led the race before Parante, who had slipped to fourth after an error, caught up and passed him.

Earlier, Raoul Hyman and Gabriela Jilkova delivered a 1-2 finish for Goa Aces JA Racing in Race-1 that had its share of drama. The duo survived it all to take the top two podium spots ahead of Malaysian Alister Yoong (Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers) who did extremely well to climb from P5 to pick up vital points for his team.

Thus, after two rounds, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers lead the championship table with 93 points, followed by Chennai Turbo Riders (83), Speed Demons Delhi (74), Goa Aces JA Racing (73), Bangalore Speedsters (39) and Blackbirds Hyderabad (36). 

The Round-3 is scheduled for September 14-15 in Coimbatore.

The Indian Racing Festival, promoted by Racing Promotions Pvt Ltd, is sponsored by Kingfisher Soda, JK Tyres, Mobil 1 and Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Limited.

The Results:

Indian Racing League (25 minutes + 1 lap) – Driver A (timings not available due to technical issue): 1. Raoul Hyman (UK, Goa Aces JA Racing); 2. Gabriela Jilkova (Czech Republic, Goa Aces JA Racing); 3. Alister Yoong (Malaysia, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers).

Driver B: 1. Alvaro Parante (Portugal, Speed Demons Delhi) (28:02.822); 2. Sohil Shah (India, Goa Aces JA Racing) (28:03.769); 3. Rishon Rajeev (India, Bangalore Speedsters) (28:09.307).

Barter and Alibhai Shine in Formula 4 Indian Championship

Hugh Barter of Godspeed Kochi and South African Aqil Alibhai of Hyderabad Blackbirds wrote their own scripts to share the day’s honours in the FIA-Formula 4 Indian Championship. 

Starting from pole position, Barter topped Race-1 in typical style, outpacing the field, in another flawless exhibition that underlined his undoubted talent. 

In contrast, Alibhai, who missed Race-1 due to issues with his car, made ample amends by winning Race-2 after starting fourth on the grid, and, in the process, displayed considerable skill in defensive driving.

Barter, who last weekend had won a race starting last on the grid, was unstoppable while winning the first race that was marred by two Safety Car periods and then a red flag with little over three minutes and a lap left. Meanwhile, Abhay Mohan (Bangalore Speedsters) quietly moved to P4 from P8 and then jumped to third place behind Barter and Ruhaan Alva Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers) as Jaden Pariat (Bangalore Speedsters) retired, bringing out the Safety Car for the third time with about six minutes and a lap left of the race. The proceedings were yet again interrupted by a red flag with about 3:30 plus one lap remaining following an incident. 

Unable to complete Qualifying-2 session, Barter started Race-2 from the end of the grid, and in no time, climbed to fifth before tangling with Ruhaan Alva and dropped to eighth. Ahead of them, Alibhai made three spots to take the lead which he defended with aplomb to win from two Indians, Divy Nandan and Jaden Pariat as the race ended behind the Safety Car. Alva finished fourth while Barter came in fifth.

Diljith and Tijil Rao Shine in historic JK Tyre Formula LGB 4 Round 2 

Dark Don team relished a memorable weekend as Diljith TS from Thrissur and Bengaluru’s Tijil Rao won a race apiece in the Formula LGB 4 category, but both had to work hard for their P1 slots on the podium.

Race-1 was a close fight between pole-sitter Pune’s Neython McPherson (Momentum Motorsports) and Diljith as the two exchanged leads early on. However, the more experienced Diljith managed to secure a slender lead that he nursed to the finish despite a Safety Car period, to finish ahead of McPherson. Behind them, Tijil Rao, having started from P8, moved up to P3, showing impressive pace, but could not make further progress.

Later in the day, under lights, Tijil Rao came up with another fine drive to upstage Diljith after the two traded lead through the 10-lap race that saw two Safety Car interventions.

 Diljith had to be content with P2, ahead of McPherson.

 The results (Formula 4-Provisional):

FIA Formula 4 Indian Championship (25mins + 1 lap) – Race 1: 1. Hugh Barter (Australia, Godspeed Kochi) (19:42.952); 2. Ruhaan Alva (India, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers) (19:50.251); 3. Abhay Mohan (India, Bangalore Speedsters) (20:09.021). 

Race-2: 1. Aqil Alibhai (South Africa, Blackbirds Hyderabad) (30:03.445); 2. Divy Nandan (India, Ahmedabad Apex Racers) (30:03.704); 3. Jaden Pariat (India, Bangalore Speedsters) (30:04.413).

The results (JK Tyre LGB-4 Provisional):

JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship (Formula LGB 4) – Race-1 (5 laps): 1. Diljith TS (Thrissur, Dark Don Racing) (11:48.827); 2. Neythan McPherson (Pune, Momentum Motorsports) (11:48.973); 3. Tijil Rao (Bengaluru, Dark Don Racing) (11:50.800). Rookie: 1. McPherson (11:48.973); 2. Abhay Mohan (Bengaluru, MSPORT) (11:53.785); 3. Ashok Lal (Bengaluru, Avalanche Racing) (12:01.039).

Race-2 (10 laps): 1. Tiljil Rao (27:03.653); 2. Diljith TS (27:03.964); 3. Neythan McPherson (27:04.402). Rookie: 1. McPherson (27:04.402); 2. Abhay Mohan (27:07.408); 3. Dhruvh Goswami (Bengaluru, MSPORT) (27:09.599).