PM Modi lauds F4 car show in Srinagar: India's tryst with motorsports

The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir got its first taste of the thrill and the adrenaline rush that is associated with the world of motorsports with the Hyderabad-based Racing Promotions Private Limited organising a promotional event for the 2024 Indian Racing Festival in Srinagar on Sunday.

The event took place in J&K summer capital Srinagar in the backdrop of the scenic Dal Lake in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department. It also comes on the heels of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar's visit to the Kashmir Valley, which is widely seen as an effort to boost Kashmir's tourism by highlighting its potential as a sports hub besides its natural beauty that attracts visitors from all over the world.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too lauded the initiative to promote the Indian Racing Festival in Srinagar.

"This is very heartening to see. It will help further showcase the beauty of Jammu and Kashmir. India offers great opportunities for motorsports to thrive and Srinagar is right on top of the places where it can happen!," PM Modi said in a post on X.

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The festival this year will comprise three events — Indian Racing League (IRL), the FIA-backed Indian F4 Championship as well as JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship (JKNRC) — with each class having five rounds taking place across the country.

RPPL plans on promoting the event through roadshows in various parts of the country, with Srinagar making its way to the organisation’s itinerary this year. Both RPPL and JK Tyre — also a major player in Indian motorsport — showcased the Wolf GB08 and Formula 4 cars.

Leading racers such as Sohil Shah — one of the two champions of IRL 2023 — Rishon Rajeev — Formula 4 vice champion — and Shriya Lohia, the Formula 4 India driver, participated in the event on Sunday.

"This exhibition will encourage the youth of J&K to invest their time watching and learning about motorsport and will also give them hope for a future in the industry," RPPL chairman Akhilesh Reddy said on the sidelines of the Srinagar promotional event.

Though nowhere close to cricket and even football in terms of popularity, motorsport has had its moments in India. From Narain Karthikeyan becoming the first Indian to participate in Formula 1 and followed soon after by Karun Chandhok to F1 making its way to the country with the Indian Grand Prix taking place between 2011 and 2013 at Greater Noida's Buddh International Circuit.

And it's not just F1 that has made its way to India — Formula E and MotoGP also taking place in Hyderabad and Greater Noida respectively in 2023.

The Kashmir valley has its own special place in the Indian sporting landscape, given the high demand for Kashmiri Willow when it comes to manufacturing quality cricket bats, and the fact that the Valley is one of the few places in the country that is home to winter sports. J&K has also made its presence felt in the Indian men's cricket team with players such as Pervez Rasool, Umran Malik and Abdul Samad.