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Chennai Formula Racing Circuit

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Coordinates: 13°4′22.08″N 80°16′50.52″E / 13.0728000°N 80.2807000°E / 13.0728000; 80.2807000
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Chennai Formula Racing Circuit
LocationChennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (Indian Standard Time)
Coordinates13°4′22.08″N 80°16′50.52″E / 13.0728000°N 80.2807000°E / 13.0728000; 80.2807000
FIA Grade3[1]
Opened31 August 2024; 3 months ago (2024-08-31)
ArchitectDriven International
Major eventsCurrent:
Indian Racing League (2024)
F4 India (2024)
Street Circuit (2024)
Length3.839 km (2.385 miles)
Turns19
Race lap record1:39.161 (Portugal Álvaro Parente, Wolf GB08, 2024, CN)

Chennai Formula Racing Circuit, also known as the Chennai City Circuit,[1] is a 3.839 km (2.385mi) street circuit in Island Grounds, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It hosted the second round of the F4 Indian Championship and the Indian Racing League 2024 on 31 August 2024.[2]

History

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Racing Promotions Private Limited, the organisers of the Indian Racing League and F4 Indian Championship, conceived a street circuit in Chennai in collaboration with the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, and it was formally launched to the public on 16 August 2023.[3] Funding for the circuit was provided by the Government of Tamil Nadu, with the Greater Chennai Corporation and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority undertaking construction.[4][5][6] The circuit become the second street circuit in India after the Hyderabad Street Circuit and it was scheduled to host India’s first night street race for the Indian Racing League and Indian F4 on 9 and 10 December 2023; however, the event was canceled due to Cyclone Michaung and delayed to August 2024.[7][8][9]

The circuit's debut was rescheduled for 31 August – 1 September 2024, using the same categories and retaining the night race concept.[10][11][12] However, the circuit did not receive its FIA homologation in time and an approval was given after the Madras High Court sought an extension of the homologation deadline, leading to just the IRL cars undertaking a brief shakedown late on the Saturday night.[13][14][1] The first race held on the circuit was for the domestic entry-level Formula LGB 4 series, and was won by T.S. Diljith.[15] Hugh Barter and Aqil Alibhai were the first Formula 4 winners on the circuit, whilst Raoul Hyman and Álvaro Parente won the first Indian Racing League heats – the first IRL race was red-flagged after a dog made its way onto the circuit.[16][17]

Track

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The circuit – designed by Driven International, the group which built the Hyderabad Formula E circuit – is situated around the Island Grounds, features 19 corners and runs in an anti-clockwise direction.[18][19][20] The circuit starts on Kamarajar Promenade, some 450 metres from the Bay of Bengal. A 'bus stop' complex of corners follows around the Victory War Memorial, before running north-west along Flag Staff Road. A left-hander then follows onto a long straight traversing Anna Salai, broken up by a chicane around the Statue of Thomas Munro. A hairpin then follows at the Periyar Statue before heading south-east along Swami Sivananda Salai, with this section broken up by a series of chicanes before the final corner around the Memorial Pillar of the 75th Independence Day – the lap finishes by crossing the Napier Bridge. The pit-lane and paddock facilities lie adjacent to the Victory War Memorial.[20][21][22]

Following issues with homologation, turn 10 at the Periyar Statue and turn 19 at the 75th Anniversary Pillar had to be re-profiled – the track was ultimately granted a Grade Three licence.[1][14][23]

Lap records

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As of September 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Chennai Formula Racing Circuit are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Date
Full Circuit: 3.839 km (2024–present)
Group CN 1:39.161 Portugal Álvaro Parente Wolf-Aprilia GB08 "Thunder" 1 September 2024
Formula 4 1:41.952[16] Australia Hugh Barter Mygale M21-F4 1 September 2024
Formula LGB 4 2:02.704 India T.S. Diljith Super Speeds-Maruti 1 September 2024

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Chennai City Circuit - Circuit Licence Grade 3". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 1 September 2024.
  2. ^ Ragav, S. Dipak (31 August 2024). "Indian Racing Festival: Chennai's inaugural night street race opening day turns out to be a damp squib". Sportstar. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Chennai racing circuit launched". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  4. ^ Mathur, Sahil (16 August 2023). "Chennai Formula Racing Circuit launched, to host India's first-night street races". Sportstar. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Chennai Formula Racing Circuit to host India's First night race". Auto Track. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Rs 15 cr grant for Chennai racing circuit". DT Next. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  7. ^ Ragav, S. Dipak (16 August 2023). "Chennai Formula Racing Circuit launched". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  8. ^ Wood, Ida (6 December 2023). "Indian F4 round three cancelled, round four relocated due to wet weather". Formula Scout. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Menon, Kavita (26 August 2024). "Indian Racing Festival: Finishing touches being applied to Chennai street race circuit". Sportstar. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Chennai gears up for India's 1st night race on street circuit". The Times of India. 30 July 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  12. ^ Rajan, Sangita (29 August 2024). "Indian racing festival 2024 hits Chennai with Formula 4 and India's first night race". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Chennai's Formula 4 night street race: Madras High Court to hold special sitting on August 31". The Hindu. 31 August 2024.
  14. ^ a b "F4 Chennai street race: FIA suggests changes; RRPL seeks time from HC". DTNEXT. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Chennai Formula 4 Race: Race 1 Results". DriveSpark. 1 September 2024.
  16. ^ a b Wood, Ida (1 September 2024). "Barter wins before Alibhai nails Indian F4's night race on Chennai streets". Formula Scout. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Alvaro Parante of Speed Demons Delhi take top honours at Indian Racing Festival as Chennai's Night Circuit Spectacle concludes". Times of India. 3 September 2024.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "Formula 4 to kick up night dust on roads around Island Grounds". DT Next. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ "F4 street circuit to come up around Island Grounds". The Times of India. 17 August 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  22. ^ "Chennai gets India's first street racing circuit with option to host night races". Firstpost. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Indian Racing Festival: Speedbumps aside, optics live up to expectations ahead of main race day". Sportstar. 31 August 2024.
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