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Engines will roar as Indian Racing Festival 2025 revs up to flag off in Coimbatore
COIMBATORE: The Indian Racing Festival (IRF) – the country’s most ambitious motorsport showcase – tears off the starting grid this weekend at the Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore, promising a heady mix of raw pace, engineering finesse and fierce competition. Across 16–17 August, fans will witness three of India’s top championships sharing one high-octane stage: the franchise-led Indian Racing League (IRL), the FIA-certified Formula 4 Indian Championship (F4IC) and the FLGB4 class from the 28th JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship.
The 2025 festival stretches over five race weekends across established circuits and select street tracks, pulling Indian motorsport closer to the global mainstream. It is as much a celebration of driving talent as it is of the deep bench of mechanics, engineers, data analysts and strategists who turn precision into performance.
This year’s IRL grid – a six-franchise, mixed-gender format – was set through the league’s first-ever official drivers’ draft in Mumbai. The process delivered a potent mix: international veterans, rising Indian stars and female racers competing on equal terms. Teams such as Speed Demons Delhi, Hyderabad Black Birds and Chennai Turbo Riders will campaign Wolf Thunder GB08 prototypes powered by Aprilia RSV4 1.0-litre engines producing 201 HP, capable of touching 290 km/h.
F4IC, the FIA-recognised feeder series, offers a rare chance for domestic drivers to earn FIA Super Licence points without leaving the country. Competitors will pilot the latest Mygale Formula 4 Generation 2 chassis fitted with Alpine engines prepared by Oreca – a platform designed to sharpen racecraft while meeting the highest global safety standards.
Anchoring the grassroots end is FLGB4, India’s longest-running national racing category. Powered by 1300cc Suzuki Swift engines and now in its 28th year, it has been the proving ground for names like Narain Karthikeyan, Karun Chandhok and the Maini brothers. The 21-driver grid features multi-team rivalries, from Sarosh Hataria’s Team Ahura Racing to Armaan Ebrahim’s MSport.
“Coimbatore has always been a key pillar of Indian motorsport – from grassroots karting to professional racing,” said Racing Promotions Pvt Ltd chairman and managing director Akhilesh Reddy. “The competitive bar is higher than ever, but what excites me most is the depth of the ecosystem – from race engineers to pit crews – ensuring racing that is fast, precise, safe and world-class.”
The festival will be broadcast live on Star Sports Select 2 and JioHotstar, with Round 2 heading to the Madras international circuit from 22–24 August, followed by further rounds in October and November.
With FIA points on the table, a mixed-gender franchise league and a national championship under one banner, IRF 2025 is not just starting its engines – it is accelerating India’s push into the global motorsport slipstream.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
