Coimbatore, 17 August 2025 — The Indian Racing Festival (IRF) 2025 delivered another exhilarating weekend of motorsport at the Kari Motor Speedway, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
Goa Aces had plenty to cheer about as Raoul Hyman stormed to victory in the IRL Driver A Race on Saturday, while teammate Fabienne Wohlwend impressed with a runner-up finish in Sunday’s fiercely contested IRL Driver B Race.
Day 2 saw Sai Sanjay of Speed Demons Delhi steal the spotlight in the IRL Group B race. Starting from P3, Sanjay showcased blistering pace, overtaking early leader Akshay Bohra to clinch the win. Behind him, Wohlwend stayed in contention, ultimately crossing the line second. The real drama unfolded in the battle for third, as Chennai Turbo Riders’ Tijil Rao, Akash Gowda, and Swiss veteran Neel Jani exchanged positions in the closing laps. Jani, representing Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru, pulled off a daring move in the final corners to secure P3, recovering brilliantly after an early setback.
Sai Sanjay reflected on the win: “We had the pace all weekend. Friday was strong, qualifying was tricky, but the team gave me a great car. This win sets us up well heading into Chennai.”
Provisional Results — IRL Group B, Race 2
1. Sai Sanjay (Speed Demons Delhi) – 26:51.373
2. Fabienne Wohlwend (Goa Aces) – 26:59.120
3. Neel Jani (Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru) – 27:10.506
Meanwhile, the FIA-certified Formula 4 Indian Championship produced equally thrilling action on a rain-soaked Sunday.
In Race 1, Greece’s Vasilis Apostolidis (Hyderabad Black Birds) converted pole position into a commanding victory despite challenging wet-dry conditions. Chennai Turbo Riders’ Shane Chandaria claimed second after an intense late fight with Ishaan Madesh, who had to settle for third.
Race 2 belonged to Madesh of Kolkata Royal Tigers, who rocketed from P4 to P1 at the start and held his nerve to secure victory, fending off French driver Sachel Rotge by just one second. Apostolidis added to his weekend tally with a fighting P3 finish.
Apostolidis described his win in Race 1 as “stressful but rewarding,” citing the constantly changing track conditions as a real challenge.
Formula 4 Provisional Results
• Race 1: 1. Vasilis Apostolidis, 2. Shane Chandaria, 3. Ishaan Madesh
• Race 2: 1. Ishaan Madesh, 2. Sachel Rotge, 3. Vasilis Apostolidis
The LGBF4 category also kept fans entertained. While Dhruvh Goswami initially appeared dominant, scrutineering infringements cost him his earlier wins, handing double victories to Diljit. In Race 3, however, Goswami bounced back with a commanding drive, leading from start to finish as Saran Vikram Tmars and Raghul Rangasamy rounded out the podium.
With Round 1 now complete, all eyes turn to Chennai, where the next leg of the Indian Racing Festival promises even more action.
