Indian Racing Festival. Round 4. Goa Street Race.
Goa goes Gaga over Racing, Roaring Engines and Exhilarating Street Race Showdown
The Indian Racing Festival delivered a dramatic two-day spectacle at the Manohar International Airport Street Circuit, as Round 4 combined high-speed action with shifting championship momentum on the tight 2.064 km street layout.
The Goa Street Race took off with pomp and show, delivering an enthralling showcase of motorsport. Six teams competed in Formula 4 spec cars, standard spec for all drivers across the lineup.
Day 1: Hyman and Yoong Take Individual Honours
The opening day featured two standalone sprint races that set the tone for the weekend.
In Race 1 (Driver A), Raoul Hyman of Goa Aces JA Racing claimed victory in 24:03.490, securing a home win for the Goa-based outfit. Starting behind pole-sitter Aqil Alibhai of Chennai Turbo Riders, Hyman made an early move for the lead and withstood sustained pressure throughout the race. Aqil Alibhai finished second, while Ishaan Madesh of Speed Demons Delhi completed the podium after the race was red-flagged and results were reclassified.
A mid-race red flag had wiped out Hyman's earlier advantage, but he managed the restart effectively to retake control before late incidents brought proceedings to an early close.
Race 2 (Driver B) saw Alister Yoong convert early chaos into victory for Speed Demons Delhi, winning in 27:50.811. Sohil Shah of Kolkata Royal Tigers charged through the field to finish a close second, just 0.308 seconds adrift, while Ruhaan Alva secured third for Kichcha's Kings Bengaluru.
Drivers from L to R- Sohil Shah (P2), Alister Yoong (P1), Ruhaan Alva (P3)
With a win and a podium, Speed Demons Delhi emerged from Day 1 with a strong championship boost.
Day 2: Relay Drama Secures Goa Aces Victory
Day 2 featured the relay-format race, where Driver A and Driver B combined efforts in a timed contest with a mandatory mid-race swap.
Hyman once again laid the foundation for Goa Aces JA Racing, setting the fastest lap of 53.527s and building a near 20-second advantage before handing over during the swap window
Drivers from L to R- Aqil Alibhai (P2), Raoul Hyman (P1), Ishaan Madesh (P3) with Kichcha Sudeep
However, a safety car intervention erased the cushion and bunched up the field, placing pressure on Fabienne Wohlwend for the second stint. The Liechtenstein driver delivered a composed restart, defended from Alva and rebuilt her margin to secure victory in a combined time of 42:11.779
Kichcha's Kings Bengaluru finished second, just 0.980 seconds behind, while Speed Demons Delhi completed the podium
Pole-sitters Kolkata Royal Tigers retired early due to a wheel issue
Team Owners; Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant; Podium Finishers; and Akhilesh Reddy
The win marked Goa Aces JA Racing's 10th victory in the series and reshuffled the standings once again.
Results Summary
Day 1 Race 1 (Driver A)
- Goa Aces JA Racing Raoul Hyman
- Chennai Turbo Riders Aqil Alibhai
- Speed Demons Delhi Ishaan Madesh
Day 1 Race 2 (Driver B)
- Speed Demons Delhi Alister Yoong
- Kolkata Royal Tigers Sohil Shah
- Kichcha's Kings Bengaluru Ruhaan Alva
Day 2 Relay Race
- Goa Aces JA Racing (Raoul Hyman & Fabienne Wohlwend) 42:11.779
- Kichcha's Kings Bengaluru 42:12.759
- Speed Demons Delhi 42:16.601
Round 4 in Goa underlined the unpredictability of street racing, with red flags, safety cars and narrow margins shaping a closely fought championship battle.
Next Chapter
India, as a country, is young in motorsport; nonetheless, it is passionate, and the steady growth of this sport is taking shape, building India into a global motorsport destination. Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman of RRPL and the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Goa, Dr Pramod Sawant, announced that round 5 of the Indian Racing Festival will be held at Navi Mumbai in mid-March, further garnering anticipation amongst fans. Dr Sawant envisions a bright future for Goa as a global motorsport and overall sports destination, which is expected to pull national and international fans to the country, further enhancing the state's tourism industry.
