IRL and what it means for Indian Motorsport

A short view back to the past...

India is no stranger to motorsports. From humble beginnings in 1904 to hosting a top-tier global racing series for three years, the sport's growth has been non-linear but steadily climbing. It was refreshing to see a complete, competitive line of young drivers fill up the grid in the National Rotax Max Championship in 2022, India's highest level of karting and, subsequently, the ever-popular JK Tyre National Racing Championship. Add in the announcement of FIA Formula 4, a brand new Formula Regional Championship (FRIC), and the Indian Racing League (IRL) being introduced later in 2022; there was nothing but absolute delight in the faces of race fans across the country.

However, the celebration of what was to be an eventful year for Indian motorsport was cut short before the official racing season kick-off due to logistical troubles. But not everything looked gloomy as the Indian Racing League, organized by Racing Promotions , was set to take over the centre stage from the announced FIA series.

The IRL, a rebrand of the former X1 Racing League, aims to present motorsport in the format of a franchise-based series - something India has loved and accepted since the Indian Premier League. For 2022, the series consists of six teams representing six popular motoring destinations - Bangalore, Goa, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Delhi, with 24 top drivers from across the globe.

Even better, the IRL was set to create a new setting for Indian motorsport - Hyderabad. Racing in a street track for the first time along the banks of the Hussain Sagar Lake, it became an official trial run for Formula E, scheduled to run the same layout in Feb '23.

Why should you be excited?

India's relationship with motorsport has changed considerably since the last time Formula 1 was around. Some would even argue that it has changed since three years back! With the top-down promotion of the sport with the takeoff of Netflix's Drive to Survive and sprinkling in the need for adrenaline after being confined at home for two years, both drivers and fans (new and old) have jumped right back into motorsports with more passion.

Combine the ferocity of race fans for wanting something fresh and new with an IPL-esque format; the IRL can crack the code this time around and become yet another sports event fans would be vying to catch live. It has all the elements that made IPL successful in the first place:

• a short format that holds the attention of a sports fan

• a mixed lineup of world-class drivers

• represented by popular cities that provide a watching fan with the emotional connection to stay invested,

• and more than ever, a platform for young and emerging talent that could kick off their careers

That said, a great product often needs more marketing effort and fan experience. In India, it's not the lack of trying but wanting to try hard enough (and long enough!) in the first place that kerbs the popularity of the sport. Any racing series is an "experience" for the average sports fan and needs to be leveraged to build the buzz that would help it take off. While the IRL has done better than its predecessors to generate excitement surrounding its launch, it has a long road ahead to capitalize on its marketability potential. Unlike cricket, motorsports need education and familiarity amongst the Indian audience to accept it as a household-Sunday-viewing sport. With affordable ticket prices, broadcasting with excellent commentary, and offline integration on race weekends, the IRL is set on course to become the breakthrough series motorsports need, if executed well.

The way forward

While the first round in Hyderabad was less than ideal, with the race cancelled on safety grounds, the street track designed by Driven International Ltd remains one of the most exciting in the country. And as the first official full-race weekend comes to a close at the Madras International Circuit, it is safe to say that the racing action is thrilling and exciting, just as the series promised.

All eyes are on Round 3 at the Madras International Circuit and Round 4 back again in Hyderabad Street Circuit, where the IRL will aim to set the right precedent for Indian motorsports going forward.