The country is gearing up for the next season of the Indian Racing Festival, which includes the F4 Indian Championship and the Indian Racing League (IRL). First announced in 2019, the fifth iteration of the IRL will be held in August this year and will feature five rounds. The championship will be held at Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore, Madras Race International Circuit in Chennai, and Bren Raceway in Bengaluru.
The IRL uses the Wolf GB08 Thunder single-seater, powered by an Aprilia RSV4 engine. The 2025 season will feature a total of six teams where each team has to field two cars and four racers, and it is mandatory for each team to have at least one female driver. Let us take a quick look at the teams and their star owners.
Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru
Owner: Kichcha Sudeep (Kannada film star)
Kiccha Sudeep is the latest entrant into the glamour of IRL as the Kannada film star has taken over the Bengaluru franchise of the championship and renamed it as Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru. The team comprised drivers like Rishon Rajeev, Caitlin Wood, Julius Dinesen, Kyle Kumaran in the 2024 season and most likely will retain the same.
Hyderabad Blackbirds
Owner: Naga Chaitanya (Tollywood actor)
Hyderabad Blackbirds, owned by Tollywood star Naga Chaitanya, is a powerhouse in the Indian Racing League. The Ferrari- and F1-fan actor-backed franchise delivered stellar performances—finishing runner-up in both the 2023 IRL Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships. With seasoned racers like Akhil Rabindra, Neel Jani and Anindith Reddy behind the wheel, the Blackbirds blend celebrity backing with motorsport pedigree.
Goa Aces JA Racing
Owner: John Abraham (Bollywood Actor)
Goa Aces JA Racing, led by Bollywood actor John Abraham, emerged as the dominant force in the 2024 Indian Racing League. The team clinched both the Teams’ Championship and Entrant’s title, with standout performances from Sohil Shah, Raoul Hyman, Gabriela Jílková, and Shahan Ali Mohsin. Their consistent pace and race wins made them the team to beat all season.
Kolkata Royal Tigers
Owner: Sourav Ganguly (Cricket legend)
Kolkata Royal Tigers, made their Indian Racing League debut in 2024, injecting fresh energy into the franchise. Representing Kolkata and Eastern India, the team’s entry aims to elevate motorsport enthusiasm locally. Ganguly’s leadership is expected to inspire rising talent and strengthen the league’s appeal across the region.
Speed Demons Delhi
Owner: Arjun Kapoor (Bollywood Actor)
Speed Demons Delhi, stormed into the 2024 Indian Racing League with a dynamic male-female driver duo—Akash Gowda and Sai Sanjay—complemented by seasoned internationals Álvaro Parente and Angélique Detavernier. Combining youthful talent with global experience, they delivered strong performances throughout the season, marking Delhi as a rising force in India’s premier motorsport league.
Chennai Turbo Riders
Owner: Accord Group & Bharath Institute
Chennai Turbo Riders raced two Wolf GB08 cars during the last season of IRL . Car #23, driven by Jon Lancaster and Ryan Mohammed, finished as Vice Champion in the Car Championship, while Car #18—piloted by Sandeep Kumar, Mira Erda, and Emily Duggan—added vital points. The team was crowned 2nd Runner-Up in the Team Championship after a stellar campaign across ten races.