Wleness at 18:39, 20 April 2026

2026-04-20T18:39:39Z

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{{Short description|Motorsport track in India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox motorsport venue
| name = Chennai Formula Racing Circuit
| coordinates = {{Coord|13|4|22.08|N|80|16|50.52|E|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| image =
| image_caption =
| fia_grade = 3<ref name="homologated">{{cite news |title=Chennai City Circuit - Circuit Licence Grade 3 |url=https://i.imgur.com/L3NO83l.png |publisher=[[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]] |date=1 September 2024}}</ref>
| capacity =
| owner =
| operator =
| broke_ground =
| opened = {{Start date and age|2024|08|31|df=yes}}
| closed = {{Start date and age|2024|09|01|df=yes}}
| construction_cost=
| architect = Driven International
| former_names =
| events = [[Indian Racing League]] (2024)<br />[[F4 Indian Championship|F4 India]] (2024)
| layout = Street Circuit (2024)
| length_km = 3.839
| length_mi = 2.385
| turns = 19
| record_time = 1:39.161
| record_driver = {{flagicon|POR}} [[Álvaro Parente]]
| record_car = [[Wolf GB08]]
| record_year = [[2024 Indian Racing League|2024]]
| record_class = [[Group CN|CN]]
| website =
}}

'''Chennai Formula Racing Circuit''', also known as the '''Chennai City Circuit''',<ref name="homologated"/> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ragav |first=S. Dipak |date=2024-08-31 |title=Indian Racing Festival: Chennai’s inaugural night street race opening day turns out to be a damp squib |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/motorsport/chennai-night-street-race-day-1-fia-controversy-indian-racing-festival-news/article68590937.ece |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Sportstar |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
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.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Chennai racing circuit launched |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/other/2023/aug/17/chennai-racing-circuit-launched-2606118.html |newspaper=The New Indian Express |access-date=13 November 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Mathur |first=Sahil |date=2023-08-16 |title=Chennai Formula Racing Circuit launched, to host India's first-night street races |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/motorsport/indian-motorsports-news-chennai-formula-racing-circuit-launched-indias-first-night-street-races/article67202313.ece |access-date=2023-11-13 |work=Sportstar |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-16 |title=Chennai Formula Racing Circuit to host India's First night race |url=https://www.autotrack.ind.in/post/chennai-formula-racing-circuit-to-host-india-s-first-night-race |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=Auto Track}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-14 |title=Rs 15 cr grant for Chennai racing circuit |url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/sports/rs-15-cr-grant-for-chennai-racing-circuit-741817 |access-date=2023-11-13 |work=DT Next |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ragav |first=S. Dipak |title=Chennai Formula Racing Circuit launched |language=en-IN |newspaper=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/motorsport/chennai-formula-racing-circuit-launched/article67202685.ece |date=16 August 2023 |access-date=13 November 2023 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name='2023_chennai_f4_cancelled'>{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |title=Indian F4 round three cancelled, round four relocated due to wet weather |url=https://formulascout.com/indian-f4-round-three-cancelled-round-four-relocated-due-to-wet-weather/113911 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US |date=6 December 2023 |access-date=20 July 2024}}</ref><ref name='2024_chennai_f4'>{{Cite news |last=Sengupta |first=Jayantho |title=F4 night street race to see light of the day in Chennai on August 31 |language=en-IN |work=DT Next |url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/sports/f4-night-street-race-to-see-light-of-the-day-in-chennai-on-august-31-795794 |date=20 July 2024 |access-date=20 July 2024}}</ref>

The circuit's debut was rescheduled for 31 August – 1 September 2024, using the same categories and retaining the night race concept.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Menon |first=Kavita |date=2024-08-26 |title=Indian Racing Festival: Finishing touches being applied to Chennai street race circuit |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/motorsport/indian-racing-festival-2024-chennai-street-race-circuit-map-news/article68568084.ece |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=Sportstar |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-07-30 |title=Chennai gears up for India’s 1st night race on street circuit |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/chennai-gears-up-for-indias-1st-night-race-on-street-circuit/articleshow/112119978.cms |access-date=2024-08-29 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rajan |first=Sangita |date=2024-08-29 |title=Indian racing festival 2024 hits Chennai with Formula 4 and India’s first night race |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/motorsport/indian-racing-festival-2024-hits-chennai-with-formula-4-and-indias-first-night-race/article68572780.ece |access-date=2024-08-29 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> However, the circuit did not receive its [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] [[List of motor racing circuits by FIA grade|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chennais-formula-4-night-street-race-madras-high-court-to-hold-special-sitting-on-august-31/article68588973.ece|title=Chennai’s Formula 4 night street race: Madras High Court to hold special sitting on August 31|publisher=[[The Hindu]]|date=31 August 2024}}</ref><ref name="changes">{{Cite web |publisher=DTNEXT |date=2024-08-31 |title=F4 Chennai street race: FIA suggests changes; RRPL seeks time from HC |url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/sports/f4-chennai-4-street-race-fia-suggests-changes-rrpl-seeks-time-from-hc-801827 |access-date=2024-08-31 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="homologated"/> The first race held on the circuit was for the domestic entry-level [[Formula LGB Swift|Formula LGB 4]] series, and was won by T.S. Diljith.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.drivespark.com/four-wheelers/2024/chennai-formula-4-race-1-irl-f4-indian-jk-flgb-4-results-056395.html|title=Chennai Formula 4 Race: Race 1 Results|publisher=DriveSpark|date=1 September 2024}}</ref> [[Hugh Barter]] and Aqil Alibhai were the first [[F4 Indian Championship|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.<ref name="F4-24">{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |title=Barter wins before Alibhai nails Indian F4’s night race on Chennai streets |url=https://formulascout.com/barter-wins-before-alibhai-nails-indian-f4s-night-race-on-chennai-streets/123229 |website=Formula Scout |language=en |date=1 September 2024 |access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/racing/top-stories/alvaro-parante-of-speed-demons-delhi-take-top-honours-at-indian-racing-festival-as-chennais-night-circuit-spectacle-concludes/articleshow/113033481.cms|title=Alvaro Parante of Speed Demons Delhi take top honours at Indian Racing Festival as Chennai's Night Circuit Spectacle concludes|publisher=[[Times of India]]|date=3 September 2024}}</ref>

== Track ==
The circuit – designed by Driven International, the group which built the [[Hyderabad Street Circuit|Hyderabad Formula E circuit]] – is situated around the Island Grounds, features 19 corners and runs in an anti-clockwise direction.<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Press Trust of India |title=TN govt launches India's first-ever night street racing circuit in Chennai |url=https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/tn-govt-launches-india-s-first-ever-night-street-racing-circuit-in-chennai-123081600718_1.html |newspaper=Business Standard |date=15 August 2023 |access-date=13 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Formula 4 to kick up night dust on roads around Island Grounds |url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/city/formula-4-to-kick-up-night-dust-on-roads-around-island-grounds-745829 |work=DT Next |language=en |date=3 November 2023 |access-date=13 November 2023}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |title=New Indian F4 series to race on street circuit in Chennai this December |url=https://formulascout.com/new-indian-f4-series-to-race-on-street-circuit-in-chennai-this-december/110393 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US |date=18 August 2023 |access-date=13 November 2023}}</ref> 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 [[Equestrian statue of Thomas Munro|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 [[75th Anniversary of Indian Independence|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.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=F4 street circuit to come up around Island Grounds |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/f4-street-circuit-to-come-up-around-island-grounds/articleshow/102783739.cms |issn=0971-8257 |date=17 August 2023 |access-date=13 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Chennai gets India's first street racing circuit with option to host night races |url=https://www.firstpost.com/sports/chennai-gets-indias-first-street-racing-circuit-with-option-to-host-night-races-13005592.html |work=Firstpost |language=en |date=16 August 2023 |access-date=13 November 2023}}</ref>

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.<ref name="homologated"/><ref name="changes"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/motorsport/chennai-street-race-delays-fia-approval-indian-racing-festival-circuit-controversy-track-conditions-safety-update/article68590997.ece|title=Indian Racing Festival: Speedbumps aside, optics live up to expectations ahead of main race day|publisher=[[The Hindu|Sportstar]]|date=31 August 2024}}</ref>

==Lap records==

The fastest official race lap records at the Chennai Formula Racing Circuit are listed as:

{| class="wikitable"
! Category !! Time !! Driver !! Vehicle !! Date
|-
! colspan=5 | Full Circuit (2024): {{cvt|3.839|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Group CN]] || '''1:39.161''' || {{flagicon|POR}} [[Álvaro Parente]] || [[Wolf GB08|Wolf-Aprilia GB08 "Thunder"]] || [[2024 Indian Racing League|1 September 2024]]
|-
| [[Formula 4]] || '''1:41.952'''<ref name="F4-24"/> || {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Hugh Barter]] || [[Mygale M21-F4]] || [[2024 F4 Indian Championship|1 September 2024]]
|-
| [[Formula LGB Swift|Formula LGB 4]] || '''2:02.704''' || {{flagicon|IND}} T.S. Diljith || [[Super Speeds]]-[[Maruti Suzuki|Maruti]] || 1 September 2024
|-
|}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Indian motorsports}}

[[Category:Defunct motorsport venues|Chennai]]
[[Category:Motorsport venues in Tamil Nadu|Chennai]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Chennai]]
[[Category:2024 establishments in India]]

Chennai Formula Racing Circuit - Revision history

Wleness at 18:39, 20 April 2026