Latest news with #IndianRacingLeague
Time of India
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
24 drivers finalised for Indian Racing League 2025 edition
The Indian Racing Festival (IRF), for its 2025 season, held the Driver Draft in Mumbai for the Indian Racing League (IRL). The event finalised 24 drivers across six franchise teams, introducing a structured and inclusive approach to team formation in Indian motorsport. Each franchise selected four drivers, ensuring a mix of experience, national representation, and gender diversity. The grid features international names, such as former Formula 1 test driver and Le Mans winner Neel Jani , British driver Jon Lancaster, and two-time IRL champion Raoul Hyman. On the domestic front, drivers, including Ruhaan Alva, Sai Sanjay, and Sohil Shah were selected, along with female racers such as Caitlin Wood, Fabienne Wohlwend, and Gabriela Jilkova. Franchise owners, including public figures from cinema and sport like Arjun Kapoor, Naga Chaitanya, and Sourav Ganguly, were present at the draft. Akhilesh Reddy, chairman and MD of Racing Promotions (RPPL), said the draft represents a step forward in building a structured, performance-oriented racing league. 'This draft celebrates talent and marks a new foundation for motorsport in India,' he said. The 2025 IRL season, starting in August, will be held across multiple cities and a mix of permanent and street circuits.
India.com
6 days ago
- Automotive
- India.com
Indian Racing Festival 2025 Flags Off with Historic Driver Draft in Mumbai
The Indian Racing Festival (IRF) 2025 marked a landmark moment for Indian motorsport with the first-ever official Driver Draft of the Indian Racing League (IRL), held at Taj Lands End in Mumbai. This event brought together franchise owners, top league officials, and media, laying the foundation for an exhilarating season ahead. The draft introduced a transparent, structured approach to team building—selecting 24 drivers across six franchises. Each team drafted an international ace, an emerging talent, a domestic star, and a female racer, showcasing IRF's commitment to inclusivity and competitive excellence. Fans can look forward to seasoned racers like Le Mans winner Neel Jani (Kichcha's Kings Bengaluru), two-time IRL champion Raoul Hyman (Goa Aces), and GP2 veteran Jon Lancaster (Hyderabad Blackbirds). Rising Indian talents such as Ruhaan Alva, Sai Sanjay, Sohil Shah, and Akshay Bohra bring fresh energy, while accomplished women drivers like Fabienne Wohlwend and Gabriela Jilkova ensure diverse representation on the grid. The draft was followed by team announcements from celebrity owners—Arjun Kapoor, Naga Chaitanya, John Abraham, Sourav Ganguly, Sudeep Kichcha, and Keerthivasan—who shared their excitement and strategic visions. Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman & MD of Racing Promotions Pvt. Ltd. (RPPL), stated, 'With this driver draft, we're building a sport for India, by India, with the world watching.' The IRF 2025 season kicks off in August, spanning premier circuits and vibrant street tracks across India. As these franchises head into the championship with balanced, star-studded rosters, Indian motorsport stands poised for a thrilling new chapter.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘If there was even a little bit of fight from the top…': Sourav Ganguly rues India's batting failure at Lord's Test
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was left disappointed by India's inability to chase 193 against England at Lord's despite having the exceptional talent and quality in the dressing room. Except for Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul, no other recognized batter from the team could even cross 20 runs as they lost by 22 runs and now trail the series 1-2. 'A little bit disappointed. With the way India batted in this series, they should have got this 190. When you saw Jadeja fight and score the runs, batting quality in this team and they will be more disappointed then I am because it was an opportunity to get 2-1 up in the series against England. I am sure that they will be disappointed not getting to 190 especially with the quality of batsmanship they have in that dressing room,' Ganguly said at the Indian Racing League & F4 India Championship event on Tuesday. Ganguly also said had the top-order batter applied a bit better, the result would have been different while also lavishing praise on Jadeja. 'If there was even a little bit of fight from the top, this game would have been India's match, he said. 'Jadeja has been exceptional, he is going to continue to play for India as long as he bats and performs like this. He has been around for a long time. He has played some 80 Test matches and more than 200 one-day games. You can see him batting, bowling, and fielding. He is a special player and his batting has really improved over the years with the experience. He is a special player and very important part of this team,' he added. On Monday, the day started with India requiring 135 runs and England having to pick six wickets after setting the visitors a 193-run target. The hosts got four Indian batters out before lunch but were made to work hard for the remaining two wickets in the last two sessions. India were finally all out for 170. Archer (3/55) and Stokes (3/48) were the chief architects of the English victory, even as Jadeja battled hard for India with a gritty unbeaten 61. (With agency inputs)
NDTV
7 days ago
- Automotive
- NDTV
Intern From Indian Racing League Programme Seen In Brad Pitts F1 Movie
A student from the Racing Promotions Pvt. Ltd. (RPPL) internship programme appears in Brad Pitt's upcoming Formula 1 movie, the organisers of the Indian Racing League said on Monday. The intern, trained as a data analyst under RPPL's free five-weekend motorsport internship, was seen in a garage scene in the film. RPPL founder Akhilesh Reddy said the internship is part of the Indian Racing League's broader effort to build a talent pipeline in motorsport. 'We are not just supporting drivers but also engineers and mechanics. In the last three years, 18 students from the programme have been placed with international teams,' Reddy said. According to RPPL, one intern is currently with the Ferrari Academy, another with Williams F1, and four are working with MP Motorsport in Formula 2. The internship — offered free to engineering students — provides hands-on training on race cars over five weekends. 'This kind of exposure would cost £3,000 for two weekends in the UK. We're offering it for free,' Reddy said. RPPL made the announcement at the Indian Racing Festival 2025 driver draft in Mumbai, where team line-ups for the upcoming season of the Indian Racing League were also revealed.
Hans India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Kichcha Sudeepa Launches Kichcha's Kings Bengaluru Racing Team in Indian Racing Festival 2025
Kannada star actor Kichcha Sudeep has started a new racing team called Kichcha's Kings Bengaluru (KKB) for the Indian Racing Festival (IRF) 2025. This is a big step for motorsport in South India. Racing League Begins in August The Indian Racing Festival will begin in August 2025. Teams from cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, and Goa will race on exciting tracks across India. Sudeep's Love for Racing Sudeep said racing is full of energy, just like movies. He wants his team to show the power and passion of Bengaluru and South India. More Stars Join IRF Many other stars also have teams in IRF: John Abraham (Goa) Sourav Ganguly (Kolkata) Naga Chaitanya (Hyderabad) Arjun Kapoor (Delhi) Now, Sudeep joins them to support racing in India. IRF Has Two Main Races Indian Racing League (IRL) – City-based teams, men and women drivers. Formula 4 Indian Championship (F4IC) – For young Indian racers aiming for global careers.
