How to get into motorsports in India: Cheapest in the world! – Times of India

Getting into motorsports is a dream for many, but not everyone gets to achieve that dream for one reason or another. While the country has hosted three different Formula One Grand Prix races in the past, a Formula E race about two months ago and will also likely be host to a MotoGP race later this year, India is still behind a lot of other countries as far as the penetration of motorsports is concerned.
Despite the overall low popularity, the growth of motorsports in India has been on a steady rise in recent years, and the industry is on track to become a major player on the global stage. One of the key drivers of growth has been the rise of domestic racing leagues including MRF Challenge, JK Tyre Racing Championship, Indian Racing League, as well as the National Racing Championship.

The core of any motorsport is starting off as young as possible – beginning with basic training, time on the simulator and then getting actual hands-on experience out on the track. Racing Promotions Private Limited (RPPL) is one organisation that is intensively working towards promoting motorsports in India, right from the initial stages.
We recently got the chance to have an exclusive interaction with Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman & MD, Racing Promotions Private Limited, wherein he revealed the company’s aims to create the right ecosystem as well as build a path for youngsters who aim to get into motorsports and even pursue it as a career.
RPPL is hosting a karting championship at the ECR Speedway in Chennai next month. The karting event is open for all above 15 years of age for an entry fee of just Rs 500, with all equipment being provided by the organisers. What’s more, the winner of this championship will be given a scholarship for the FMSCI National two-stroke Championship – the next stage of the motorsport pyramid.

Racing Promotions says that it will further support the top 5 candidates in the two-stroke championship by providing them training, adequate track time, and also, a free seat in the Formula 4 Championship – which RPPL is running in India this year. For reference, an F4 seat anywhere in the world would cost somewhere in the region of €200,000, which roughly converts to a whopping Rs 1.78 crore in Indian currency!
As the order follows, the best of Formula 4 India will graduate to Formula 3. A free seat in next year’s F3 Championship will also be offered to the driver who wins the F4 event by RPPL, which is another €250,000 – €350,000 (INR 2.2 crore – 3.1 crore). Apart from the winner, other drivers can bring in sponsors to pay for their racing seat in the Championship – which is usually the case.
The Formula 3 (India) winner is then promoted to Formula Regional Asian Championship, earlier known as F3 Asian Championship. Reddy claimed that if the RPPL sponsored driver wins the Formula Regional Asian Championship, they might also support him/her in Formula 2, with plans to enter Formula 2 at some point in the future too.

The Formula 4 and Formula 3 events in India are now accredited by FIA – the governing body for major auto racing events, including Formula One. This means that a driver can now accumulate Super License points racing in these Indian Championships, and not have to travel to foreign countries for the same exposure.
Additionally, RPPL says that it will offer the “cheapest price” for an F4 seat in the entire world in a bid to attract foreign drivers, which will likely be about a little over half the price for the same seat anywhere else. Additionally, Reddy says that RPPL will be offering a 25 – 30 per cent discount to Indian drivers for a racing seat in Formula 4 over what foreign drivers have to pay.

“Our main motto is to put India into the global map of motorsports. Whatever the foreign drivers are paying for a seat, the Indian drivers will be paying less than that. First they (Indian drivers) are getting the seat for a cheaper price, and secondly, they don’t have to spend more on travelling and logistics, and third, their parents/guardians can accompany them easily,” said Reddy.
It’s no secret that getting into motorsports is an expensive affair anywhere in the world. Racing Promotions claims that it aims to make motorsports more accessible to aspiring young drivers in India by introducing more leagues and sponsoring talent. “Our aim through this (karting) league is to see at least one female driver in Formula 2 in the coming 7 to 8 years, and we also want to see at least one Indian driver in Formula One in the next 8 – 9 years”, said Reddy.

There are currently two Indian drivers competing in the 2023 Formula 2 Championship, Jehan Daruvala, racing for MP MotorSport, and Kush Maini who is representing the Campos Racing team. At the highest level so far, the world has witnessed only two Indian drivers participating in Formula One – often referred to as the pinnacle of motorsports. However, with the rising recognition of motorsports in India along with the establishment of multiple leagues, we hope to see an Indian driver getting behind the wheel of a Formula One car very soon.
Stay tuned to TOI Auto for all major motorsport developments around the world, including all race reports from the 2023 F1 season.