Exciting F4 Indian Championship Unfolds in Chennai

The F4 Indian Championship in Chennai delivered an exhilarating weekend of racing, with standout performances from Luviwe Sambudla and a historic win by 15-year-old Aaron Mehta. Sambudla's two victories and a podium finish propelled him to the championship lead, while Mehta made headlines as the youngest race winner in the series' history. The event showcased intense competition, dramatic recoveries, and challenging weather conditions, reshaping the championship standings. As the series progresses, the excitement continues to build for the next round.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 24, 2026, 11:47 IST

F4 Indian Championship Delivers Thrills in Chennai

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) - The Madras International Circuit was alive with excitement as it hosted Round 3 of the F4 Indian Championship, part of the Indian Racing Festival 2026, on October 22 and 23. The event featured intense racing, remarkable comebacks, and a significant milestone, with Luviwe Sambudla from Goa Aces JA Racing emerging as the star of the weekend. He secured two wins and a third-place finish, propelling him to the top of the championship standings. Notably, 15-year-old Aaron Mehta from Kolkata Royal Tigers made history by becoming the youngest winner in the championship's history, as reported by the F4 Indian Championship.

Sambudla transformed a five-point deficit into a commanding 21-point lead, amassing a total of 138 points, while Aris Kyriakou from Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru trailed with 117 points. Throughout the 3.717-kilometre circuit, Sambudla demonstrated exceptional skill, clinching victories in the first two races after starting from sixth position, and finishing strong on the podium. Ntiyiso Mabunda from Speed Demons Delhi also showcased his talent, finishing second in all three races, while Mehta's composed performance earned him his first victory in the final race.

Race Dynamics and Highlights

The competition featured 16 drivers representing eight franchise teams, with Kyriakou initially leading the standings due to consistent podium finishes. However, challenging wet conditions and fierce competition quickly altered the dynamics of the championship. In the opening race, Kyriakou took an early lead, while Mehta kept pace and Sambudla advanced two positions on the first lap. As the rain intensified, Sambudla overtook Mehta for second place and capitalized on Kyriakou's loss of grip on lap nine to take the lead. Ntiyiso Mabunda, starting from tenth, executed an impressive recovery to finish second, while Aryan Narola from Goa Aces JA Racing completed the top three. Sambudla won the race by a margin of 9.606 seconds, setting the fastest lap at 1:48.647.

Sambudla continued his winning streak in the second race, starting sixth again due to the reverse-grid format. He navigated through the field to secure his second victory in a time of 33:22.590 after 13 laps, with Ntiyiso Mabunda finishing just 1.211 seconds behind. Kyriakou managed to recover to third place, while Narola and Gutte followed closely behind. The race highlighted the competitive nature of the championship, with the top six drivers finishing within a mere 5.414 seconds of each other.

Aaron Mehta's Historic Victory

The defining moment of the weekend occurred in the third race, where Mehta converted his pole position into a historic victory. The young driver maintained his composure throughout a race filled with incidents, including a red flag and a safety car deployment, ultimately winning by a narrow margin of 0.546 seconds. Mehta initially held the lead, facing strong challenges from Narola. However, slippery conditions caused several drivers to struggle, leading to a red flag to recover stranded cars. After the restart, Mehta built a lead of about 1.5 seconds over Sambudla, but a late safety car period brought the field back together. In a tense final lap, Mehta defended his position against Ntiyiso Mabunda, securing his first championship win at just 15 years old. Mabunda finished second for the third time, while Sambudla rounded out the podium.

The weekend also tested the resilience of the entire field, with several drivers facing difficulties in the wet conditions. The Chennai round significantly impacted the championship standings, with Sambudla moving from five points behind Kyriakou to a 21-point lead after his two victories and consistent podium finishes. Ntiyiso Mabunda's consistent second-place finishes highlighted his reliability, while Mehta's landmark win marked a significant achievement for the Kolkata Royal Tigers.

Indian Racing League (IRL) Highlights

In the Indian Racing League (IRL) at the Madras International Circuit, Speed Demons Delhi's Shahan Ali Mohsin clinched victory in a tightly contested opening race, finishing just 0.506 seconds ahead of Raoul Hyman from Goa Aces JA Racing. Mohsin completed the race in 18:32.970 and recorded the fastest lap at 1:36.354. Hyman made an impressive charge from fourth on the grid to secure second place, while Shane Chandaria from Chennai Turbo Riders completed the podium. Mohammed Ryan from Hyderabad Blackbirds recovered from seventh to finish fourth, and Emil Heyerdahl from Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru took fifth. The top eight drivers finished within 8.523 seconds of the winner, showcasing the close competition in this thrilling event.