Godspeed Kochi crowned maiden IRL champions

Hyderabad, 11 Dec 2022: Scintillating performance winning all the three races on the final day saw dark horses Godspeed Kochi crowned as the team champions in the inaugural Indian Racing League (IRL) as strong favourites Black Birds Hyderabad fell by the way side in the fourth and final round which concluded at the street circuit on the banks of Hussain Sagar here on Sunday.

Black Birds Hyderabad’s Akhil Rabindra, ace Indian driver, was adjudged as Driver champion followed by teammate Neel Jani in Second. Kochi team’s Alister Yoong of Malaysia was third.

All the four drivers of Kochi, Ruhaan Alva and Fabienne in Car #1 and Alister Yoong and Nikhil Bora in Car #2 turned in excellent performance on the final day to close the championship with a bang.

Despite the early hiccups, the historic Racing League, the first city-based motorsports league in the country also gave India its first Street Circuit, thanks to the support from the Telangana government. The new Circuit is expected to host the Formula E world Championship next February after the homologation of the track.

Godspeed Kochi’s Alister Yoong and Nikhil Bora finished the final day of the League season and the Round 4 on a high note, posting thumping victories in both the Sprint Races and the Feature Race. Meanwhile, their second car piloted by Ruhaan Alva and Fabienne Wohlwend, chipped in with a sixth place, despite technical issues with the car, after finishing fourth on the track and logging a penalty. Thus, Godspeed Kochi (313.5), who went into the final race trailing by 23.5 points to Black Birds Hyderabad (337) garnered enough points to turn the tables and overthrow the Championship leaders and were crowned the inaugural Team Champions of IRL promoted by Racing Promotions Private Limited. Kochi ended up with 417.5 points to Hyderabad’s 385.

In the Feature Race, both the Blue cars of Kochi started on the front row but there was much drama with a Red flag at the very beginning following Hyderabad’s Akhil Rabindra’s car stalling on the grid. Later, after three formation laps the race began with most of the cars on wet tyres on a drying track.

In car #2, Nikhil Bora started on pole and lead the race and after driver swap, Alister Yoong, surprisingly found himself in third place and finished second on the track. But later, he was credited with a victory in the Feature Race, thus making a clean sweep for Kochi team.

Behind Alister, Kevin of Goa Aces, who began in P3 overtook Ruhaan and soon Jon Lancaster of Chennai followed suit. But with some skilful driving Ruhaan, the 17-year Bengalurean, gained back a place and jumped into the pits quite early and there was confusion if he missed the pit-window. However, Fabienne took over after the driver swap and retained the third place till the final lap before finishing the race in fourth place on the track. But later, a penalty saw them end up in sixth place. But that classification was enough to garner valuable 32 points for the team which counted in their snatching the Team Championship.

Earlier, Alister, the son of Malaysia’s first F1 racer Alex Yoong, won the first Sprint Race followed by Gabriela Jilkova and Sohil Shah (Both Goa Aces).

In the second Sprint Race, Nikhil Bora and Ruhaan Alva posted a 1-2 victory for Kochi to gain full points and Kevin Mirocha of Goa Aces finished third. With today’s exploits Goa Aces finished the championship in third with 282 points.

Final Results – Feature Race:

1. Nikhil Bora/ Alister Yoong (Godspeed Kochi);

2. Kevin Mirocha / Gabriela Jilkova (Goa Aces);

3. Anindith Reddy/ Lola* (Black Birds Hyderabad);

4. Jon Lancaster / Sandeep Kumar (Chennai Turbo Riders);

5. Nicole Hvarda / Parth Ghorpade (Chennai Turbo Riders);

6. Ruhaan Alva /Fabienne Wohlwend (Godspeed Kochi);

*(Unwell Lola did not take part on Sunday and Anindith drove the race alone with a 3-min pitstop)

Not Classified:

7. Amir Sayed/ Sohil Shah (Goa Aces);

8. Rishon Rajeev / Bianca Bustamante (Bangalore Speedsters);

9. Mitchell Gilbert / Celia Martin (Speed Demons Delhi);

10. Akash Gowda/ Shahan Ali Mohsin (Speed Riders Delhi);

11. Oliver Webb /Anshul Gandhi (Bangalore Speedsters);

12. Akhil Rabindra /Thomas Canning (Black Birds Hyderabad);

Sprint Race 1:

1. Alister Yoong (Godspeed Kochi);

2. Gabriela Jilkova (Goa Aces)

3. Shohil Shah (Goa Aces)

4. Thomas Canning (Black Birds Hyderabad);

5. Akash Gowda (Speed Demons Delhi);

6. Nicole Havrda (Chennai Turbo Riders);

7. Sandeep Kumar (Chennai Turbo Riders);

8. Celia Martin (Speed Demons Delhi);

9. Fabienne Wohlwend (Godspeed Kochi);

10. Rishon Rajeev (Bangalore Speedsters);

11. Oliver Webb (Bangalore Speedsters);

12. Anindith Reddy (Black Birds Hyderabad).

Sprint Race 2:

1. Nikhil Bohra (Godspeed Kochi);

2. Ruhaan Alva (Godspeed Kochi);

3. Kevin Mirocha (Goa Aces);

4. Jon Lancaster (Chennai Turbo Riders);

5. Akhil Rabindra (Black Birds Hyderabad);

6. Amir Sayed (Goa Aces);

7. Parth Ghorpade (Chennai Turbo Riders);

8. Shahan Ali Mohsin (Speed Demons Delhi);

9. Mitchell Gilbert (Speed Demons Delhi);

10. Bianca Bustamante (Bangalore Speedsters);

11. Anshul Gandhi (Bangalore Speedsters);

12 Anindith Reddy (Black Birds Hyderabad).

Final Championship Points table

1. Godspeed Kochi 445.5;

2. Black Birds Hyderabad: 397;

3. Goa Aces: 294;

4. Chennai Turbo Riders 226.

5. Bangalore Speedsters 147.5;

6. Speed Demons Delhi 141;

Drivers title:

1. Akhil Rabindra (Black Birds Hyderabad);

2. Neel Jani (Black Birds Hyderabad);

3. Alister Yoong (Godspeed Kochi).

eom/david/7.42pm