CHENNAI: A historic milestone was achieved in Indian motorsport when the inaugural FIA certified Formula 4 Indian Championship concluded with Cooper Webster clinching the title in the final round at the Madras International Circuit on Sunday.
The high-octane event saw an impressive performance from Australian prodigy Cooper Webster, who raced for the Chennai Turboriders team this season. He led the championship from start to finish with his exceptional performances throughout the season. He is also a member of the Red Bull eSports team.
By winning this championship, he earns the right to compete for free in the next season of the Indian Regional Formula 3 Championship.
The young racing sensation showcased his prowess with eight wins, five pole positions, 11 podium finishes and a total of 282.5 points. He also held the record for the largest victory margin in the Indian F4 Championship by crossing the finish line 20.030 seconds ahead of Rishon Rajeev.
Had to struggle till the end to achieve the title of Vice Champion of the Indian F4 Championship. But in the end Rishon Rajeev of Speed Demons Delhi secured the second position in the standings followed by Akshay Bohra of Godspeed Kochi.
The importance of this championship is to provide drivers with the opportunity to earn Super License points, enabling them to further their pursuit towards Formula One.
But the event faced considerable opposition from its inception as the cyclone affected the event schedule and disrupted the inaugural night street race at the new Chennai Formula Racing Circuit. The petitioners also faced legal challenges, citing public safety and disturbance in holding such an event in the heart of the city.
Due to this, the street race was canceled for the year and the remaining races of the season were moved to the Madras International Circuit. This year the entire competition of both Formula 4 and Indian Racing League was held at the same circuit.
Despite all the challenges, the Indian motorsport community will be delighted with the successful conduct of this FIA certified event, which is an important step towards elevating the future of Indian motorsports on the global stage.
