Archive · 22 Aug 2026
Sankaran, Gyan Lead Thrilling Formula Races at National Challenge
The first round of a major car-racing competition began in Chennai.
Saishiva Sankaran won the Formula 2000 race in a very close finish.
He passed Aditya Patnaik after Patnaik was slowed by cars being lapped.
Gyan S won the Formula 1600 race after the leading driver lost power.
Viswas Vijayaraj won the Formula LGB 1300 race by building a large lead.
His DTS Racing teammates finished second and third.
Kaveen Diyyan Rajapaksa won the Junior race.
Other drivers also qualified fastest for races scheduled for the next day.
Saishiva Sankaran won the Formula 2000 race after passing Aditya Patnaik on the final lap.
Chennai’s Gyan S took the Formula 1600 victory after Bhuvan Bonu suffered a power drop.
Viswas Vijayaraj led a DTS Racing sweep in the Formula LGB 1300 Open race.
Sri Lankan Kaveen Diyyan Rajapaksa won the Formula LGB 1300 Junior category.
Arjun Narendran, Diljith T.S. and Neel Shah topped qualifying in their respective classes.
- Who
- Drivers including Saishiva Sankaran, Gyan S, Viswas Vijayaraj and Kaveen Diyyan Rajapaksa competed in the opening races.
- What
- The first round of the Indian National Racing Challenge 4W – 2026 began with Formula and touring-car races.
- When
- Saturday; qualifying for some following races was held for Sunday.
- Where
- Madras International Circuit in Chennai, India.
- Why
- Drivers were competing in the first round of the 2026 national racing challenge.
- Event
- First round of the Indian National Racing Challenge 4W – 2026
- Venue
- Madras International Circuit, Chennai
- Formula 2000 winner
- Saishiva Sankaran of Pune
- Formula 1600 winner
- Gyan S of Chennai
- Formula LGB 1300 Open winner
- Viswas Vijayaraj of Nellore, driving for DTS Racing
- Junior winner
- Kaveen Diyyan Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka, driving for Momentum Motorsports
- Fastest qualifying lap
- Arjun Narendran recorded 1 minute, 49.033 seconds in Indian Super Touring Cars