Chennai Formula Racing Circuit
Location | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
---|---|
Time zone | UTC+05:30 (Indian Standard Time) |
Coordinates | 13°4′22.08″N 80°16′50.52″E / 13.0728000°N 80.2807000°E |
Opened | 30 August 2024 |
Architect | Driven International |
Major events | Current: Indian Racing League (2024) F4 India (2024) |
Street Circuit (2024) | |
Length | 3.500 km (2.175 miles) |
Turns | 19 |
Chennai Formula Racing Circuit is a Formula racing street circuit in Chennai, India.
Background
[edit]Racing Promotions Private Limited, the organisers of the Indian Racing League and F4 Indian Championship, conceived a street circuit in Chennai and in collaboration with the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT), formally launched the circuit on August 16.[1] It is the second street circuit in India after Hyderabad, which hosted the Formula E race in 2023. The Circuit is scheduled to host the first-ever night street race. It was planned for the track to host the IRL round and the F4 Indian Championship round on 9 and 10 December 2023.[2] However, the race was canceled due to the Cyclone Michaung in that area.[3] Now, it is planned that the circuit will host races in August 2024.[4]
Tamil Nadu government partnership
[edit]As part of the Memorandum of Understanding, signed between Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on behalf of the Tamil Nadu state government and the IRL promoters Racing Promotions Private Limited (RPPL) for a period of three years, the TN government will fund Indian Rs. 42 crores, while RPPL will invest Rs. 200 crores.[5] SDAT, has also tied up with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), to take up the work.[6] The first tranche of Rs. 15 crores were presented by SDAT at a special event in Chennai on 13 October 2023.[7]
The president of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) Akbar Ebrahim, Akhilesh Reddy, chairman and MD of RPPL and Armaan Ebrahim, one of the directors of RPPL, were present during the signing of the MoU in Chennai.[5]
Track
[edit]The circuit will be 3.500 km (2.175 mi) long around the Island grounds. It starts from Island grounds and will run through Flag Staff Road-Victory War Memorial, Pallavan Road (junction), Sivananda Road and Napier Bridge and ends at Island grounds.[8] It has significant elevation changes, and it runs about 450 m (1,480 ft)[9] from the Bay of Bengal, within the view of Marina Beach.[10][11] The street circuit will run in an anti-clockwise direction and has 19 corners with multiple chicanes.[12] The pitlane and paddock will be on the Island Ground. It is designed by Driven International, the group which built the Hyderabad Street Circuit that hosted India's first Formula E race.[9] FIA (International Automobile Federation), the international governing body for motorsport is expected to homologate the track and give green signal before the first race in December.[13] However, the races were cancelled due to the concerns regarding Cyclone Michaung in that area, and the opening of the circuit had to be postponed to the last weekend of August 2024.[3][4]
References
[edit]- ^ "Chennai racing circuit launched". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ Ragav, S. Dipak (16 August 2023). "Chennai Formula Racing Circuit launched". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ a b Wood, Ida (6 December 2023). "Indian F4 round three cancelled, round four relocated due to wet weather". Formula Scout. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ a b Sengupta, Jayantho (20 July 2024). "F4 night street race to see light of the day in Chennai on August 31". DT Next. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ a b Mathur, Sahil (16 August 2023). "Chennai Formula Racing Circuit launched, to host India's first-night street races". Sportstar. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Chennai Formula Racing Circuit to host India's First night race". Auto Track. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Rs 15 cr grant for Chennai racing circuit". DT Next. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Formula 4 to kick up night dust on roads around Island Grounds". DT Next. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ a b Wood, Ida (18 August 2023). "New Indian F4 series to race on street circuit in Chennai this December". Formula Scout. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "F4 street circuit to come up around Island Grounds". The Times of India. 17 August 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Chennai gets India's first street racing circuit with option to host night races". Firstpost. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "TN govt launches India's first-ever night street racing circuit in Chennai". Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Chennai Formula Street Racing Circuit". Top Gear. Retrieved 13 November 2023.