COIMBATORE: The Indian Racing Festival (IRF) – the country’s most ambitious motorsport showcase – tears off the starting grid this weekend at the Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore, promising a heady mix of raw pace, engineering finesse and fierce competition. Across 16–17 August, fans will witness three of India’s top championships sharing one high-octane stage: the franchise-led Indian Racing League (IRL), the FIA-certified Formula 4 Indian Championship (F4IC) and the FLGB4 class from the 28th JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship.
The 2025 festival stretches over five race weekends across established circuits and select street tracks, pulling Indian motorsport closer to the global mainstream. It is as much a celebration of driving talent as it is of the deep bench of mechanics, engineers, data analysts and strategists who turn precision into performance.
This year’s IRL grid – a six-franchise, mixed-gender format – was set through the league’s first-ever official drivers’ draft in Mumbai. The process delivered a potent mix: international veterans, rising Indian stars and female racers competing on equal terms. Teams such as Speed Demons Delhi, Hyderabad Black Birds and Chennai Turbo Riders will campaign Wolf Thunder GB08 prototypes powered by Aprilia RSV4 1.0-litre engines producing 201 HP, capable of touching 290 km/h.
F4IC, the FIA-recognised feeder series, offers a rare chance for domestic drivers to earn FIA Super Licence points without leaving the country. Competitors will pilot the latest Mygale Formula 4 Generation 2 chassis fitted with Alpine engines prepared by Oreca – a platform designed to sharpen racecraft while meeting the highest global safety standards.
Anchoring the grassroots end is FLGB4, India’s longest-running national racing category. Powered by 1300cc Suzuki Swift engines and now in its 28th year, it has been the proving ground for names like Narain Karthikeyan, Karun Chandhok and the Maini brothers. The 21-driver grid features multi-team rivalries, from Sarosh Hataria’s Team Ahura Racing to Armaan Ebrahim’s MSport.
“Coimbatore has always been a key pillar of Indian motorsport – from grassroots karting to professional racing,” said Racing Promotions Pvt Ltd chairman and managing director Akhilesh Reddy. “The competitive bar is higher than ever, but what excites me most is the depth of the ecosystem – from race engineers to pit crews – ensuring racing that is fast, precise, safe and world-class.”
The festival will be broadcast live on Star Sports Select 2 and JioHotstar, with Round 2 heading to the Madras international circuit from 22–24 August, followed by further rounds in October and November.
With FIA points on the table, a mixed-gender franchise league and a national championship under one banner, IRF 2025 is not just starting its engines – it is accelerating India’s push into the global motorsport slipstream.
