Domestic Indian Racing League (IRL)Non-F1

Alister Yoong wins Sprint Race 1; Rishon Rajeev sparkles: IRL Round3

INDIAinF1 Desk December 3, 2022

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Rishon Rajeev in action on Sunday. Photo by Karan Ravi

Irungattukotti, 3 Dec 2022: Malaysia’s Alister Yoong continued his good run bringing a victory for GodSpeed Kochi in the Sprint Race 1 to make a strong comeback in the Round 3 of the inaugural Indian Racing League at the Madras International Circuit which saw spells of rain here on Saturday.

While Alister Yoong, son of the first Malaysian F1 driver Alex Yoong, who did brilliant work last week-end, was upto it again and clocked 12min, 22.995 seconds for the eight laps before the race was Red flagged due to heavy rain. With only seven minutes left and 75 per cent completed, the race was not started again and Yoong took the victory in the first sprint followed by young talented Bengalurean Rishon Rajeev, who did a splendid job for Speedsters clocking 12:25.421. Lola Lovinfosse of Black Birds Hyderabad came third bagging 15 valuable points to save the blushes for the Championship leaders. Her teammate in the second car Akhil Rabindra came fifth to chip in 10 points to salvage a total of 25 point in the Sprint race behind the 33 bagged by Kochi team.

Besides Alister’s 25 points, Ruhaan Alva in the other Kochi car garnered 8 points with a sixth place to steal the day’s honours for Godspeed Kochi.

Akhil Rabindra finishes 5th in Sprint Race 1 to get 12 valuable points that helped retain their top spot on the IRL standings on Saturday. Photos Karan Ravi for INDIAinF1.

After the first Sprint Race in Round 3, Black BIrds Hyderabad continue to lead the standings with 193 points followed by Kochi on 153 and Bangalore, 119.

Earlier, Nikhil Bohra put GodSpeed Kochi on pole in the first Qualifier, to put Alister Yoong on pole with the best lap time of 1:31.825. Jani Neel representing the Black Birds Hyderabad settled for the second spot with the best lap timing of 1:33.212 helping his teammate Akhil Rabindra start on P2 for the Sprint Race 1. Each car has two drivers, and Driver A will qualify for Driver B and vice-versa for the two sprint races. The combined qualifying times will decide the grid for the Feature race.

In Qualifier 2, Akash Gowda (1:42.017) took pole position in changing weather conditions for Speed Demons Delhi along with Sandeep Kumar from Chennai Turbo Riders (1:45.354) who cemented the second place.

On Sunday, the Sprint Race 2 will be held followed by the Feature Race.

The finale of the Indian Racing League will take place in Hyderabad on 10th & 11th December 2022.