CHENNAI: Australian Hugh Barter of Godspeed Kochi and South African Aqil Alibhai of Hyderabad Blackbirds shared the day’s honours in the FIA-Formula 4 Indian Championship in the country's first-ever night racing event, in Chennai on Sunday night.
Legal issues, track certification delay, change of corners, traffic diversion - the inaugural night street race in Chennai had hurdle after hurdle hurling at it. But they all fell by the wayside, a challenge so distant that it was not even visible on the rearview mirror when the action finally began on Sunday night.
By the time spectators made their way to the stands in the afternoon, the excitement around the event reached its peak with whooshing cars burning the rubber and setting the road-turned-track on fire in the qualifying rounds.
At the golden hours of the evening, the F4 cars buzzing around the track made it a visual treat for the large crowd that assembled here.
The atmosphere was further electrified when celebrity team owners like John Abraham, Naga Chaitanya, Arjun Kapoor, and Sourav Ganguly made their way to the pitstop to greet their teams and crew members. Also present was Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Udhayanidhi Stalin, who faced political flak for being keen on organising the event.
CHECK OUT HIGHLIGHTS OF DAY 2 HERE:
How twists on track almost turned F4 night street race in Chennai from spectacle to debacle
Delay in obtaining licence, poor organising, tired faces grace day one of South Asia's first night-street race
After traversing through tightly contested political and legal lanes, the Formula 4 night street race finally commenced in Chennai on Saturday night. However, what was promised to be a one-of-its-kind spectacle that was being organised for the first time in South Asia almost turned into a debacle, before the organisers finally managed to pull it together to get it going.
Read more:
FIA gives green light to conduct F4 street race after delay in acquiring licence
How twists on track almost turned F4 night street race in Chennai from spectacle to debacle
All the drivers got their first taste of the circuit late at night yesterday with Formula LGB cars going out on track for their first practice session at around 9 pm. They were followed by the Indian Racing League (IRL) and Formula 4 cars.
Some drivers had expressed concerns over the dust on the track while going on fast laps but over the course of the session, the track got better and they were able to find grip.
Meanwhile, the final practice session began at 10:15 am today and went on till 11:35 am. The qualifying sessions are under way now.
Here's the full schedule for an action packed Day 2:
Update: Hugh Barter from Godspeed Kochi took pole position clocking a time of 1.43.158.
He dominated the qualifying session with an advantage of over 1.5 seconds from Ruhaan Alva (Bengal Tigers)
F4 Chennai night street race: GCC captures stray dogs at F4 Chennai night street race track
Qualifying Updates
Indian Racing League (IRL)
Alvaro Parante takes pole position followed by Nikhil Bohra and Rishon Rajeev to complete the top three.
The IRL cars were three seconds quicker than the Formula 4 cars with Alvaro topping the charts with 1.40.430 in IRL qualifying
Formula LGB cars lined up on the grid for the inaugural race on the Chennai Formula Racing Circuit
Its lights out and away we go!!!!!
The Formula LGB race 1 has officially begun
Safety car out even before the end of first lap
The Formula 4 cars are lined up on the track with Hugh Barter on pole position followed by Ruhaan Alva.
Barter had a good start from the line to keep his lead of the race followed by Alva, Pariat, Nandan and A Mohan to complete the top 5
The show is getting better as stars start to descend!
John Abraham, Sourav Ganguly and Arjun Kapoor few others in the house.
Yuvan Shankar Raja, the man behind the Chennai Formula 4 theme song, graces the event with his presence!
Cook with Comali fame and actor Ashwin Kumar in attendance.
Hugh Barter who started from pole position won the race 1 of the Formula 4 round 2 in a race which ended in red flag. Ruhaan Alva finished in second followed by Abhay Mohan
Audience watches F4 Chennai street race Day 2
Bollywood star Arjun Kapoor races into the party!
FORMULA 4 RACING CHENNAI RESULTS:
FLGB 4: FORMULA LGBALAKRISHNAN 4
(1) Diljith TS, Car No 44 (Darkdon Racing)
(2) Neythan Mcperson, Car No 95 (Momentum Motorsports)
(3) Tijil Rao, Car No 12 (Darkdon Racing)
*************************
Indian F4 Championship:
(1) Hugh Barter 68 (Australian, Godspeed Kochi)
(2) Ruhaan Alva 27 (Indian, Sharchi Rarh Bengal Tigers)
(3) Abhay Mohan 45 (Indian, Bangalore Speedsters)
The illuminated F4 night street race track
Race 1 of Round 2 in the F4 night street race:
Chaos has erupted once again, as Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports descended at the pit stops at Chennai Street Circuit - reporters were condoned off and weren't allowed to speak. This resulted in a clash between security and media personnel
Up Next: Indian Racing League (IRL) will zoom through the track for one last time this season.
Winners Hugh Barter, Ruhaan Alva, and Abhay Mohan strike a pose with their trophies.
Indian Racing League - Round 1 - Race 1 - Results
1st Place
Team: Goa Aces Ja Racing
Driver Name : Raoul Hyman
Nationality: British
2nd Place
Team: Goa Aces Ja Racing
Driver Name : Gabriela Jilkova
Nationality: Czech
3rd Place
Team: Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers
Driver Name: Alister Yoong
Nationality: Malaysian
Formula 4 Racing Winners Details:
“The track was really cool to drive, probably one of my favourite tracks to drive. My aim for the race was just to get my head down and give my best,” said Hugh Barter, speaking to the media after the first race.
Starting from pole position, Barter topped Race-1 in typical style, outpacing the field, in another flawless exhibition that underlined his undoubted talent. In contrast, Alibhai, who missed Race-1 due to issues with his car, made ample amends by winning Race-2 after starting fourth on the grid, and, in the process, displaying considerable skill in defensive driving.
Barter, who last weekend had won a race starting last on the grid, was unstoppable while winning the first race that was marred by two Safety Car periods and then a red flag with little over three minutes and a lap left.
Meanwhile, Abhay Mohan (Bangalore Speedsters) quietly moved to P4 from P8 and then jumped to third place behind Barter and Ruhaan Alva Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers) as Jaden Pariat (Bangalore Speedsters) retired, bringing out the Safety Car for the third time with about six minutes and a lap left of the race.
The proceedings were yet again interrupted by a red flag with about 3:30 plus one lap remaining following an incident.
Unable to complete Qualifying-2 session, Barter started Race-2 from the end of the grid, but in no time, climbed to fifth before tangling with Ruhaan Alva and dropped to eighth. Ahead of them, Alibhai made three spots to take the lead which he defended with aplomb to win from two Indians, Divy Nandan and Jaden Pariat as the race ended behind the Safety Car. Alva finished fourth while Barter came in fifth.
(UNI inputs)
FIA Formula 4 Indian Championship (25mins + 1 lap) – Race 1:
1. Hugh Barter (Australia, Godspeed Kochi) (19:42.952);
2. Ruhaan Alva (India, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers) (19:50.251); 3. Abhay Mohan (India, Bangalore Speedsters) (20:09.021).
Race-2:
1. Aqil Alibhai (South Africa, Blackbirds Hyderabad) (30:03.445);
2. Divy Nandan (India, Ahmedabad Apex Racers) (30:03.704);
3. Jaden Pariat (India, Bangalore Speedsters) (30:04.413).