Remember when we wrote about a night race coming to Madras? Well, that was the Indian Racing League! And now, we have news that will make your HR receive a lot of leave applications! The third season of the Indian Racing League (IRL) is ready to deliver a photo finish experience. It kicks off at the Madras International Circuit (MIC) on 2425 August 2024, along with the Formula 4 Indian Championship (F4IC). Imagine that! We get twice the fun in this.
So what makes IRL stand out? Why should you tune in? Well, IRL is the world’s first gender-neutral, franchise-based league. Each of the six teams includes four drivers—two from India and two from overseas, with one of the international drivers being female. Each team competes with two cars, with drivers split into Driver A and Driver B. They share a car and race alternately across different rounds, adding a strategic element to the competition. Teamwork and coordination are as critical as individual driving skills.
So what does Season three look like?
Season Schedule and Locations:
Round 1: 24-25 August – Madras International Circuit (MIC), Chennai
Round 2: 30 August – 1 September – Chennai Formula Racing Circuit
Round 3: 13-15 September – Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore
Round 4: 19-20 October – Location TBD
Round 5: 16-17 November – Location TBD
However, we have some reason to believe that the Buddh International Circuit may just make an appearance this year. Here’s hoping it’s for the finals!
The Teams and Drivers:
Bangalore Speedsters: Kyle Kumaran, Rishon Rajeev, Julius Dinesen, Caitlin Wood
Chennai Turbo Riders: Sandeep Kumar, Mohamed Ryan, Jon Lancaster, Emily Duggan
Speed Demons Delhi: Sai Sanjay, Akash Gowda, Alvaro Parente, Angelique Detavernier, owned by Arjun Kapoor
Goa Aces JA Racing: Sohil Shah, Shahan Ali Mohsin, Raoul Hyman, Gabriela Jilkova, owned by John Abraham
Hyderabad Blackbirds: Akhil Rabindra, Anindith Reddy, Neel Jani, Laura Camps, owned by Naga Chaitanya
Rahr Bengal Tigers: Nikhil Bohra, Ruhaan Alva, Alister Yoong, Fabienne Wohlwend, owned by Rahul Todi
The IRL was cofounded by Indian racing stars Aditya Patel and Armaan Ebrahim, and it had a challenging debut in 2019 with mechanical issues and safety concerns that cut the season short. Despite these hurdles, the Bangalore Racing Stars were crowned the inaugural champions. The pandemic, however, caused a hiatus due to COVID-19. The league returned in 2022 with a new name and improved format. Although the second season faced some challenges, including accidents and logistical problems, it marked a step forward for the IRL.
The third season in 2023 faced disruptions such as venue changes and weather-related issues, but also saw major milestones, including Raoul Hyman and Sohil Shah winning the drivers’ championship, with Bangalore Speedsters securing the team title.
IRL this year will be exciting—will Bangalore take the cup again? Being a Bangalorean, I hope so! This is racing—that nailbiting, anxious seatshifting feeling, as the apex is challenged at every turn. Motoring World will cover this one closely, so stay tuned for more updates.
