The streets of Goa transformed into a high-octane racing circuit as the Indian Racing Festival (IRF) unfolded, drawing top drivers, team owners and motorsport enthusiasts from across the country.
Actor and team owner John Abraham, who owns Goa Aces JA Racing, underscored the importance of developing grassroots talent and strengthening India’s motorsport culture through sustained government and bureaucratic support.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Abraham said nurturing young drivers such as Arjun Maini and Kush Maini was critical to building a competitive motorsport ecosystem in India. He expressed gratitude to the Government of Goa for supporting the event and facilitating the creation of a street circuit.
“Indian Racing Festival is very significant because you need young grassroots talent. We are grateful to the government of Goa. At the end of the day, you need political and bureaucratic support. To make a track like this is not easy,” he said.
Abraham reiterated that motorsport, particularly Formula 1, remains one of the most watched sporting formats globally and emphasised the need for proactive institutional backing to accelerate the sport’s growth in India.
Recalling India’s earlier stint as a Formula 1 host nation, he referred to the race won by Sebastian Vettel and noted that the sport had then been placed under the entertainment tax bracket. He said that recognising motorsport as a sport rather than entertainment would help unlock its full potential in the country.
On the track, Raoul Hyman and Fabienne Wohlwend guided Goa Aces JA Racing to a relay-format victory, clocking a combined time of 42:11.779.
Hyman delivered a strong opening stint, registering the fastest lap of 53.527 seconds and building a substantial lead on the tight street circuit. Executing a clean run through traffic, he entered the mandatory swap window between the 19th and 22nd minute in control, handing over the car with nearly a 20-second advantage.
The victory marks the team’s 10th win in the Indian Racing Festival and reinforces the importance of teamwork and composure on street circuits where race dynamics can shift rapidly.
Team owners present at the venue included John Abraham (Goa Aces JA Racing), Kichcha Sudeep (Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru), Naga Chaitanya (Hyderabad Black Birds) and Sourav Ganguly (Kolkata Royal Tigers), lending star presence to the event.
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