The circuit's debut was rescheduled for 31 August – 1 September 2024, using the same categories and retaining the night race concept.[10][11][12] However, the circuit did not receive its FIAhomologation in time and an approval was given after the Madras High Court sought an extension of the homologation deadline, leading to just the IRL cars undertaking a brief shakedown late on the Saturday night.[13][14][1] The first race held on the circuit was for the domestic entry-level Formula LGB 4 series, and was won by T.S. Diljith.[15]Hugh Barter and Aqil Alibhai were the first Formula 4 winners on the circuit, whilst Raoul Hyman and Álvaro Parente won the first Indian Racing League heats – the first IRL race was red-flagged after a dog made its way onto the circuit.[16][17]
Track
The circuit – designed by Driven International, the group which built the Hyderabad Formula E circuit – is situated around the Island Grounds, features 19 corners and runs in an anti-clockwise direction.[18][19][20] The circuit starts on Kamarajar Promenade, some 450 metres from the Bay of Bengal. A 'bus stop' complex of corners follows around the Victory War Memorial, before running north-west along Flag Staff Road. A left-hander then follows onto a long straight traversing Anna Salai, broken up by a chicane around the Statue of Thomas Munro. A hairpin then follows at the Periyar Statue before heading south-east along Swami Sivananda Salai, with this section broken up by a series of chicanes before the final corner around the Memorial Pillar of the 75th Independence Day – the lap finishes by crossing the Napier Bridge. The pit-lane and paddock facilities lie adjacent to the Victory War Memorial.[20][21][22]
Following issues with homologation, turn 10 at the Periyar Statue and turn 19 at the 75th Anniversary Pillar had to be re-profiled – the track was ultimately granted a Grade Three licence.[1][14][23]
Lap records
As of September 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Chennai Formula Racing Circuit are listed as:
