New Delhi, Aug 17 : The Indian Racing League (IRL), featuring Indian sensations Akhil Rabindra and Nikhil Bohra alongside Swiss great Neel Jani and multiple other leading motorsports talent from India and abroad, will kick off at the Madras International Circuit on August 24-25, followed by India's first-ever night race at the Chennai Formula Racing Circuit on August 31-September 1.

Leading the talented IRL lineup of 24 drivers including male and female drivers, split into six teams of four each will witness the likes of Akhil Rabindra and Neel Jani. The league will also witness female racers driving alongside their male counterparts.

Rabindra made history in 2019 as the only Asian selected by Aston Martin for their Racing Academy, later clinching the inaugural IRL title in 2022. Jani, a fan favourite from Switzerland, brings an impressive resume, winning the World Endurance Championship and the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016.

Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman & Managing Director of RPPL, welcomed the new and the returning drivers back to the grid: "We're thrilled to welcome our returning drivers and new competitors to the most exciting season of the Indian Racing Festival yet. As the premier showcase of top racing talent from India and beyond, we pride ourselves on delivering exhilarating action. With new teams, a night race, and a unique franchise-based format featuring both men and women racers competing on the same track, this season promises unmatched thrills."

The six teams will feature two Indian and two foreign racers, including one female. As such, six women racers will compete with their male counterparts on the same track, all whizzing around in their rapid Wold Thunder GB08s, the single-seater cars that can achieve a top speed of 240 kmph.

This year, the returning Fabienne Wolhwend and Gabriel Jilkova, among others, will try to match Sarah Moore's accomplishment from 2023, when she became the first female race winner in IRL history.

Six teams will participate in the league, including newcomers Kolkata Royal Tigers (Kolkata); stalwarts Speed Demons Delhi (Delhi), Goa Aces JA Racing (Goa), Hyderabad Blackbirds (Hyderabad), and Chennai Turbo Riders (Chennai); and former champions Bangalore Speedsters (Bengaluru).

Raoul Hyman, a successful British-South African driver, will be one of the returning faces in the IRL this season, alongside his partner from the previous year, Sohil Shah. In the IRL, two teammates share one car across five intense rounds, with the highest-scoring pair winning the Car Championship and the highest-scoring cars winning the Team Championship. Hyman and Shah had clinched the 2023 Car Championship by earning the most points.

Shah, one of the many promising Indian drivers vying for glory in the IRL, said: 'The Indian Racing League is a testament to the excitement and passion for motorsports in our country. It's amazing to witness and be a part of the budding motorsports scene in India. The grid here is extremely competitive, pushing each of us to our limits and showcasing the immense talent we have.'

Wohlwend, who finished second twice in IRL 2022 and won the Team Championship, he will be participating this season too, said: "Participating in the Indian Racing League has been an incredible experience. It's exciting to be part of the world's first gender-inclusive franchise racing league, where everyone has a chance to shine. The spirit here is unmatched, driving us all to achieve our best. The growing popularity of the league among Indian fans is truly inspiring, too, and their support motivates us to push even harder."

The IRL will also serve as a thrilling stage for rising stars like Ruhaan Alva, who made history last year as the youngest race winner. Joining him are peers Shahan Ali Mohsin and Rishon Rajeev, fresh off their successes in the Formula 4 Indian Championship, and debutant Julius Dinesen, a 17-year-old prodigy from Denmark with a F4 title to his name.

/IANS