F4 finale race shifted back to MIC, new champion to be crowned this weekend

CHENNAI: With the ambitious plan to host India’s first night street race in Chennai hitting hurdles, including the disastrous floods and legal tangles, the final round of the Indian Formula 4 Championship is reportedly returning to the Madras International Circuit (MIC) on December 16 and 17.

However, soon after the organiser, Racing Promotions Pvt Ltd, announced this on social media, government officials rejected this, stating that they were waiting for the Madras High Court verdict.

The international circuit outside the city has been the venue for all previous F4 rounds this season. But the SDAT and government decided to hold the final round at the heart of the city, on the roads around Island Ground, and named it Chennai Street Circuit.

“The race is promoted as a street race and India’s first night race. What is the point in shifting it to the regular track? There is no such plan to shift the race. The High Court has reserved its order. We are waiting for it. Let the court pronounce the order,” said an official.

Meanwhile, speaking to DT Next, Philip George, circuit manager, MIC, confirmed that the track there has been booked for the F4 race this weekend. “[However], we cannot confirm if it will be the final race,” he said.

Initially scheduled to be held on December 9 and 10, this was to be the country’s first racing event, preparations for which, including removing medians, installing safety barriers and re-laying roads, were going on in full speed. However, the torrential downpour that inundated the city and its neighbouring districts, put paid to the plans.

There were also legal challenges to the event, with petitioners citing several reasons like public safety, inconvenience to patients admitted to the Omandurar Government Multi-Super Speciality Hospital, environmental damage, and also questioned the need to spend public money for what essentially is a private event.

Motorists who travelled on these roads on Tuesday noted that the rigs and barriers placed on the road were removed, though it is not clear whether they were damaged in the flood or because of the rescheduling.

The announcement about the final F4 race follows the conclusion of round three of the Indian Racing League earlier this week.