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The highly anticipated Indian Racing Festival in Chennai encountered a significant setback on its opening day, casting a shadow over the event billed as India's first-ever night-street racing spectacle. Despite the initial excitement and anticipation surrounding the race, organizers faced a series of challenges that resulted in a delayed start and a less-than-ideal inaugural experience for fans.
Safety concerns emerged as the primary obstacle, forcing the organizers to make adjustments to the circuit layout before racing could commence. The FIA Circuit Commission, responsible for ensuring safety standards in four-wheel motorsports, raised concerns about the high approach speeds into certain corners of the 19-turn track. These concerns prompted the organizers to modify corner profiles and implement additional safety measures, particularly at turn-19, the final corner exiting Swami Sivananda Salai onto the start-finish straight on Marina Beach Road. This critical modification, designed to slow down cars approaching the corner, involved significant work and adjustments to the Tecpro barriers, further contributing to the delay.
The delay extended beyond the initial safety modifications. While drivers from the Formula 4 Indian Championship and the Indian Racing League were seen leaving the track and returning to their hotels in the early afternoon, the organizers cited ‘technical issues’ as the reason for the postponement. The day’s program, featuring practice and qualifying sessions for three categories, was significantly disrupted, leaving fans waiting for the action to begin. Eventually, after more than a five-hour delay, Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin flagged off the event near the Sir Thomas Munro Statue on Anna Salai. However, the challenges did not end there. The Formula 4 Indian championship cars were only able to complete a sighter lap, and a further delay of nearly two hours ensued before the JK Formula LGB cars finally started their first practice session at 9.10 p.m. local time.
Despite the significant delays and obstacles, the organizers of the Indian Racing Festival in Chennai managed to overcome the challenges and initiate the racing program. While the event's opening day fell short of expectations, the organizers' commitment to safety and their ability to address the technical issues provide a glimmer of hope for a successful continuation of the event. The remaining races are anticipated to provide thrilling competition and showcase the talent of Indian and international drivers on the unique street circuit.