New Chennai street circuit to host F4 India night race

Chennai is all set to get a new street circuit that will host the 2023 F4 Indian Championship and Indian Racing League later this year. Called the Chennai Formula Racing Circuit, the track is located around the Island Grounds in the heart of the city, and organisers have confirmed the races will be held at night.

The news confirms our earlier report on series organiser Racing Promotions Private Limited (RPPL) working on a new street circuit in India.

1. 3.5km street circuit stretches across Island Grounds, Chennai
2. Racing debut on December 9-10, 2023
3. To host F4 India and Indian Racing League

Chennai Formula Racing Circuit details

Tamil Nadu’s Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of three years with RPPL. The 3.5km long Chennai Formula Racing Circuit follows an anti-clockwise layout and features 19 corners. It’s being designed by Driven International – who has also worked on the Hyderabad Street Circuit, the upcoming Nanoli Speedway, and updates to the Yas Marina Circuit, to name a few projects.

The circuit stretches across Island Grounds, Victory War Memorial and the Napier Bridge; the pit and paddock structures will be built on Island Grounds. The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) will be investing Rs 42 crore, while RPPL is investing Rs 200 crore to develop the circuit.

Currently, the plan is for the venue to host the F4 Indian Championship and Indian Racing League on December 9 and 10, 2023. This will make it the first street circuit, not just in India but in South Asia, to host a night race.

RPPL was also behind the Hyderabad Street Circuit, where Formula E raced earlier this year. “We went through this with the Hyderabad track last year as well, so we have some experience in terms of building a street circuit and we are confident of the abilities we have in hand,” said Armaan Ebrahim, Director of RPPL.

“The work has already started. We have a couple of months to put it all together,” he added.

F4 India debut this year

While the inaugural Formula Regional India Championship (the country’s first FIA-graded F3 championship) has been further postponed, F4 India is on track to make its debut this year. Speaking to Autocar India earlier this year, Akhil Reddy – chairman and MD of RPPL – explained, “I want to make sure what we are doing is a success. So, I am personally thinking of going stage-wise. Last year, we did the street circuit and Indian Racing League; so now as a second step we are going with F4.”

The series will use the FIA-homologated Gen 2 Mygale F4 car, which is used in the French F4 championship. The cars are powered by an Alpine 1.3-litre turbocharged engine. The grid will comprise 12 drivers, including a mix of Indian and International racers.

Crucially, F4 India promises to offer Super Licence points, which are necessary to qualify to race in F1.

The Indian Racing League will also return for a second season, featuring the Wolf GB08 Thunder single-seater.The format will remain the same, with six city-based teams fielding a mix of Indian and international drivers. Each team will also have one female driver. The inaugural edition was won by GodSpeed Kochi, while Hyderabad Blackbirds’ Akhil Rabindra won the drivers’ title.

Also see:

MotoGP India guide: Tickets, track updates explained