Chennai Turbo Riders secure a  double podium finish

The third season of the FIA-certified Formula 4 Indian Championship, which is part of the Indian Racing Festival, had a thrilling finale at the Madras International Circuit in Chennai on December 14 as Shane Chandaria became the youngest title winner at the age of 15.

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Having entered the 2025 season as a fresh-faced rookie, Kenya’s Chandaria finished it as the indisputable champion. It was the first championship win of his young career. The Chennai Turbo Riders carried a 24-point lead at the top going into the fifth and final round this weekend.

Starting the first race of the day in pole position, the teenager completed the 23 laps in 26 minutes, 23.059 seconds. Though he finished second behind Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru’s Sachel Rotge, who clocked 26:22.674, the top 2 finish was enough to seal the title. Veer Sheth from the Chennai Turbo Riders won third place.

Even after the championship was wrapped up, Frenchman Rotge and Chandaria were once again locked in battle in Race 2 despite the reverse grid pushing them to the back of the track. They fought off competition and staged some daring overtaking moves towards the end to finish on the podium. While 16-year-old Luviwe Sambudla of Goa Aces JA Racing won the race, Rotge, who pulled off a double overtake in the last lap, finished second and Chandaria third to leave their indelible mark on the season.

Chandaria and Rotge dominated the 2025 Indian F4 Championship, finishing first and second, respectively. The third position was taken up by seven-time Indian National Karting Champion Ishaan Madesh. Chandaria’s team, Chennai Turbo Riders, meanwhile, won the Teams’ Championship.

F4 is a motor racing championship for formula racing cars that adhere to FIA Formula 4 regulations. It is a feeder series, serving as the first step in the single-seater racing pyramid. Not only does it give young drivers a taste of international competition, but it also awards the all-important Super Licence points, which are needed to cut F1. In this year’s F4 Indian Championship, the drivers competed in Ligier JS F422 cars, which are powered by an Alpine 1.3-litre turbocharged engine.

 

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