Navi Mumbai is set to host Maharashtra’s first-ever Formula night street race as the grand finale of the Indian Racing Festival (IRF). Racing Promotions Pvt. Ltd. (RPPL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) to create the city’s first FIA-grade street circuit. The event, slated for this December, is touted to be the path ahead for motorsports in India.
The proposed circuit is a 3.753 km track with 14 turns, running through Palm Beach Road and alongside Nerul Lake. It will have an anti-clockwise layout and will be floodlit, following in the footsteps of the Chennai night race from the previous year. The Mumbai Street Race will join a global list of iconic street race destinations, with organizers confident it will attract international attention. While the exact dates are yet to be announced, the final round will feature a night-time double-header with both the Indian Racing League (IRL) and the FIA-certified Formula 4 Indian Championship (F4IC).
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the initiative, highlighting its potential for the state. "The Mumbai Street Race marks a historic milestone in Maharashtra’s motorsport journey," Fadnavis said. "It will inspire young racers, generate jobs, and boost tourism, while showcasing our capability to host world-class events." RPPL chairman Akhilesh Reddy also expressed his enthusiasm, stating that the event "elevates India’s racing heritage and showcases world-class competition at the heart of South Asia.”
The Indian Racing League, is notable for being the world's first gender-neutral racing championship series. The league features six city-based teams with prominent celebrity owners, including John Abraham (Goa Aces), Arjun Kapoor (Speed Demons Delhi), Sourav Ganguly (Kolkata Royal Tigers), Sudeep Kichcha (Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru), Naga Chaitanya (Hyderabad Blackbirds), and Dr. Swetha Sundeep Anand (Chennai Turbo Riders). Each team fields a mix of Indian and international drivers, including one female racer.
The Indian Racing Festival has previously hosted races in Hyderabad, Chennai, and Coimbatore. This year, the series will also feature a new street circuit in Goa in November, which will precede the Navi Mumbai finale.
