The 2025 Indian Racing Festival (IRF) roared into action at Coimbatore’s Kari Motor Speedway on August 16, kicking off its opening round with tense qualifying duels and unpredictable racing.
Goa Aces’ Raoul Hyman delivered a commanding performance to take the season’s first win. Starting from pole after Kyle Kumaran lost two qualifying lap times, Hyman fended off early pressure from Jon Lancaster before pulling away to victory. Lancaster’s challenge ended abruptly with a technical failure midway through the race.
Kumaran, driving for Kichcha’s Kings Bangalore, fought back from 11th on the grid to claim second place after a spirited drive through the field. Chennai Turbo Riders’ Aqil Alibhai secured third after a steady run.
Provisional Results – Indian Racing League Round 1 (Driver A):
- Raoul Hyman (Goa Aces) – Winner
- Kyle Kumaran (Kichcha’s Kings Bangalore) – Runner-up
- Aqil Alibhai (Chennai Turbo Riders) – 2nd Runner-up
Pole Position: Raoul Hyman – 1:05.682
Goswami Shines in JK Tyre National Championship
The 28th edition of the JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship also got underway, adding to the festival atmosphere. The Formula LGB 4 category featured close, wheel-to-wheel action across its first two races.
In Race 1, Mehul Agarwal started on pole but could not hold off Diljit TS at the start. However, as track conditions improved, Dhruvh Goswami launched a late charge to snatch victory, with Diljit in second and Balaprasath completing the podium.
Race 2 saw Goswami repeat his winning form, edging out Diljit once again, while Agarwal finished third after a measured drive.
Provisional Results – Race 1 (LGB F4):
- Dhruvh Goswami – Winner (20:02.940)
- Diljit TS – Runner-up (20:03.094)
- Balaprasath – 2nd Runner-up (20:03.875)
Provisional Results – Race 2 (LGB F4):
- Mehul Agarwal – Winner (23:12.150)
- Saran Vikram – Runner-up (23:12.310)
- Dhruv Goswami – 2nd Runner-up (23:13.592)
What’s Next
Day 2 at Kari Motor Speedway will see the second set of IRL drivers take to the track, alongside two races from the FIA-accredited Indian Formula 4 Championship. If the opening day was any indication, fans can expect another round of tight battles and on-track drama.
