Indian Racing Festival: Aryan Narola Claims F4 Double as Ruhaan Alva Wins IRL Race at BIC

Aryan Narola and Ruhaan Alva emerged as the biggest winners as the Indian Racing Festival wrapped up an action-packed weekend at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida on Sunday, November 1.

Representing Goa Aces JA Racing, Narola delivered a dominant performance in the F4 Indian Championship, securing victories in both Sunday's races. Meanwhile, Kichcha's Kings Bengaluru driver Alva claimed the second Indian Racing League (IRL) race of the weekend to round off the two-day event on a high.

The October 31-November 1 race weekend featured five races across the two championships. Saturday's opening contests saw Raoul Hyman of Goa Aces JA Racing win the IRL race, while Ntiyiso Mabunda of Speed Demons Delhi triumphed in the F4 Indian Championship.

Hyman & Mabunda Set the Pace on Saturday

The weekend's racing action began with Round 2 of the IRL and Round 4 of the F4 Indian Championship. Hyman produced an impressive drive in the opening IRL contest, crossing the finish line in 27:40.759 to secure victory.

The British driver initially trailed Emil Heyerdahl of Kichcha's Kings Bengaluru before executing a decisive overtaking move to take the lead. Hyman maintained his advantage for the remainder of the race.

Kolkata Royal Tigers' Sai Shiva Sankaran finished second in 27:55.806 after a strong late charge, while teammate Jemma Moore of Kichcha's Kings Bengaluru took third in 27:56.070.

Chennai Turbo Riders' Tijil Rao also looked set for a strong finish after recovering from eighth position and climbing as high as second. However, a mechanical failure on the final lap ended his challenge.

In the opening F4 race, Mabunda secured the top spot with a winning time of 32:46.842. The South African had to work hard for the result after Narola made an excellent start from third on the grid, overtaking both Mabunda and Arjun Chheda to briefly move into the lead.

Mabunda eventually reclaimed the front position, while compatriot Luviwe Sambudla of Goa Aces JA Racing joined the battle. The two South Africans fought closely before Mabunda emerged victorious.

Narola Dominates Sunday's F4 Races

Sunday proved to be Narola's day as the Goa Aces JA Racing driver swept both F4 Indian Championship races to complete a memorable double.

In the first race, Swarnav Das initially held the lead before Narola overtook him on the second lap at the bend. Sambudla subsequently moved past Das and began challenging Narola for the top position.

The fight for the podium remained competitive, with Aris Kyriakou also making progress by overtaking Das. However, Sambudla's hopes of a strong finish ended when engine trouble forced him to retire with only a few laps remaining.

Narola maintained his composure to take the chequered flag, with Kyriakou finishing second and Mabunda securing third place.

The second F4 race followed a similar pattern, with Narola taking control from the start and successfully defending his position throughout the contest.

Chheda and Mabunda attempted to put him under pressure, with Chheda making several efforts to challenge for the lead. Narola, however, remained in control and completed a perfect Sunday with his second consecutive victory. Chheda finished runner-up, while Mabunda claimed another third-place finish.

Alva Secures IRL Victory After Dramatic Contest

The second IRL race of the weekend delivered another closely fought contest, with Ruhaan Alva of Kichcha's Kings Bengaluru eventually taking the top spot.

Shane Chanderia initially moved ahead of Alva and controlled the race for several laps. However, mechanical problems forced him out of contention, opening the door for Alva to take advantage and secure the victory.

Mohamed Ryan of Hyderabad Blackbirds finished second, while Malaysian driver Alister Yoong of Speed Demons Delhi completed the podium in third place.

Alva's triumph provided a fitting conclusion to the IRL action at BIC, while Narola's double victory made him the standout performer in the F4 category.

Indian Racing Festival Continues to Build Motorsport Momentum

The Greater Noida round delivered competitive racing across both championships, with established contenders and emerging talents producing several memorable moments over the weekend.

The Indian Racing Festival features two major competitions: the Indian Racing League and the F4 Indian Championship. The IRL is a franchise-based, gender-neutral four-wheel racing series featuring six city-based teams, while the FIA-certified F4 Indian Championship provides young drivers with a pathway from karting to single-seater racing.

With the BIC round concluded, Narola and Alva will take confidence from their respective victories as the Indian Racing Festival continues its efforts to strengthen the country's motorsport ecosystem and provide a platform for emerging racing talent.