Thrilling Races at Chennai's F4 Indian Championship: A Weekend of Records and Rivalries

Exciting Action at the Madras International Circuit

The Madras International Circuit in Chennai was the stage for exhilarating wheel-to-wheel racing during Round 3 of the F4 Indian Championship, part of the Indian Racing Festival 2026, held on October 22 and 23.

Luviwe Sambudla from Goa Aces JA Racing shone brightly, securing two wins and a third-place finish, propelling him to the top of the championship standings. Meanwhile, 15-year-old Aaron Mehta from Kolkata Royal Tigers made headlines 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, ahead of Aris Kyriakou from Kichcha's Kings Bengaluru, who has 117 points. Throughout the 3.717-kilometre circuit, Sambudla displayed remarkable speed and skill, clinching victories in the first two races from a sixth-place start before finishing on the podium again. Ntiyiso Mabunda from Speed Demons Delhi also impressed, finishing second in all three races, while Mehta maintained his composure to achieve his first victory in the final race.

The 16-driver lineup, representing eight franchise teams, arrived in Chennai with Kyriakou leading the championship after a series of consistent podium finishes. However, the challenging wet conditions and intense competition quickly altered the dynamics of the title race.

In the opening race, Kyriakou took an early lead, with Mehta keeping pace and Sambudla advancing 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 a remarkable recovery, overtaking both Mehta and Kyriakou to secure second place, while Aryan Narola from Goa Aces JA Racing joined the front runners.

With rain returning, Sambudla pulled away to win by 9.606 seconds, setting the fastest lap at 1:48.647. Mabunda's impressive climb to second and Narola's third-place finish highlighted the race's competitive nature. Mehta finished fourth, and Kyriakou settled for fifth, while Krishay Gutte from Speed Demons Delhi was the highest-placed Indian driver in sixth. This result gave Sambudla a 10-point lead in the championship.

Continuing his momentum into the second race, Sambudla again started sixth 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, although this race was much closer. Mabunda finished just 1.211 seconds behind, while Sambudla recorded the fastest lap at 1:50.071.

Mabunda's consistent performance was evident as he finished second for the second time, while Kyriakou rebounded to take third place. Narola maintained fourth, followed by Gutte and Mehta in sixth. The top six were separated by only 5.414 seconds, showcasing the increasing competitiveness of the series. Sambudla's second win extended his championship lead over Kyriakou to 14 points ahead of the final race.

The defining moment of the weekend came in the third race when Mehta converted his pole position into a historic victory. The young driver held his ground through a race filled with incidents, including a red flag and a safety car intervention, ultimately fending off a late challenge from Mabunda to win by a mere 0.546 seconds.

Mehta maintained his lead as Narola challenged him early on. However, slippery conditions caused several drivers to struggle, including Kyriakou, who ran wide and got stuck in a puddle, and Swarnav Das, who also slid off the track. A red flag was issued to recover the stranded cars, and the race resumed behind the safety car, with Kyriakou and Das restarting from the back.

After the restart, Mehta built a lead of about 1.5 seconds over Sambudla. However, a retirement from Bhuvan Bonu of Hyderabad Blackbirds, who was running fourth, brought out the safety car, erasing Mehta's advantage. As the race neared its end, Mabunda closed in on Mehta, setting up a tense final lap. Despite Mabunda's efforts, Mehta defended his position to secure his first championship win at just 15 years old.

Mabunda finished second for the third time in Chennai, while Sambudla took third, capping off a successful weekend. Das recovered to finish fourth, followed by Mahlori Mabunda from Godspeed Kochi in fifth. Kyriakou managed to recover from 16th to sixth, while Enzo Rujugiro from Kichcha's Kings Bengaluru finished seventh. Narola climbed to eighth and recorded the fastest lap of the race at 1:39.676.

The weekend also tested the resilience of the wider field, with Mathias Alexander Forland from Ahmedabad Apex Racers retiring after just one lap in the opening race. Lily-May Watkins from Godspeed Kochi and Janine Wermuth from Hyderabad Blackbirds faced challenges in the wet conditions, emphasizing the fine margins that influenced the three races.

This round in Chennai has significantly altered the championship landscape, with Sambudla moving from five points behind Kyriakou to a commanding 21-point lead after two wins and a podium finish in all three races. Mabunda's consistent second-place finishes showcased his reliability, while Mehta's historic win marked a significant milestone for the Kolkata Royal Tigers.

As the championship progresses, Sambudla leaves Chennai firmly in control, while Kyriakou must work to close the gap. Mehta, on the other hand, emerges as a standout performer after achieving a landmark victory.

In the Indian Racing League (IRL) at the Madras International Circuit, Speed Demons Delhi's Shahan Ali Mohsin converted pole position into a victory in a tightly contested opening race, finishing just 0.506 seconds ahead of Raoul Hyman from Goa Aces JA Racing over eight laps. Mohsin completed the race in 18:32.970 and recorded the fastest lap at 1:36.354, while Hyman surged from fourth to finish second.

Shane Chandaria from Chennai Turbo Riders rounded out the podium, finishing 2.690 seconds behind the winner, while Mohammed Ryan from Hyderabad Blackbirds recovered from seventh to fourth. Emil Heyerdahl from Kichcha's Kings Bengaluru finished fifth, and Sai Shiva Sankaran from Chennai Turbo Riders crossed the line sixth after starting third.

Speed Demons Delhi's Sachel Rotge finished seventh after an impressive recovery from 11th, contributing to the team's strong performance with two drivers in the top seven. The top eight finished within 8.523 seconds of the winner, highlighting the fierce competition in the opening IRL race.