The 2026 F4 Indian Championship started with three different winners at Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore on September 12-13. South Africa’s Luviwe Sambudla won Race 1, 15-year-old Aryan Narola took Race 2, and Australia’s Aris Kyriakou closed the weekend with victory in Race 3. Kyriakou’s two second-place finishes alongside that win pushed him to the top of the championship after Round 1.
The weekend also produced two early records. Singapore’s Aaron Mehta became the youngest pole-sitter in championship history, while Narola became the series’ second-youngest race winner. Seven drivers reached the podium across three races, giving the season an open start.
Who Won the Three F4 India Races in Coimbatore?
The first race immediately broke the expected order. Sambudla started eighth for Goa Aces JA Racing but moved into podium contention within four laps. A safety car tightened the field, yet he held his pace and won in 31 minutes 05.808 seconds, finishing 2.245 seconds ahead of Kyriakou. Mehta, who started from pole, came home third. The Telangana Today race report carries the detailed Round 1 account.
The three Round 1 winners were:
- Race 1: Luviwe Sambudla, Goa Aces JA Racing
- Race 2: Aryan Narola, Goa Aces JA Racing
- Race 3: Aris Kyriakou, Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru
Race 2 brought the closest finish. Narola started from pole and spent the 26-lap race with Kyriakou close behind. The 15-year-old held on by only 0.624 seconds, while Swarnav Das finished third. Race 3 then went Kyriakou’s way after he resisted pressure from Mahlori Mabunda, with Mehta taking another third place.
Why Aaron Mehta and Aryan Narola Became the Weekend’s Big Young Names
Before Race 1 had finished, Aaron Mehta had already entered the record books. The 15-year-old Singaporean produced a 1:05.652 lap to become the youngest pole-sitter in the series. Tyre wear cost him the lead later, but third place on debut still gave Kolkata Royal Tigers an immediate podium.
Narola added another age-related milestone on Sunday. His Race 2 victory made him the second-youngest winner in F4 Indian Championship history, and he had Kyriakou within a second at the flag.
The 2026 grid has 14 drivers from eight nationalities and eight teams, according to the pre-season F4 line-up published by India Today. The field includes racers from India, Singapore, the United States, Kenya, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Norway and Australia.
For the championship’s own social feed, readers can also follow the official Indian F4 Instagram account. That mix of teenage newcomers and returning racers made the opener especially difficult to predict before the lights went out.
How Aris Kyriakou Left Coimbatore as the Early Championship Leader
Kyriakou did not need to win every race to leave Coimbatore in front. He finished second behind Sambudla in Race 1, second again behind Narola in Race 2, then won Race 3. That run made him the most consistent front-runner of the opening round.
Race 3 was not comfortable. Mahlori Mabunda stayed close for much of the contest, while traffic became a factor near the finish. Ntiyiso Mabunda stopped on the final lap, bringing out a yellow flag. Mehta benefited from the late shuffle and secured third.
The Times of India report from Coimbatore also confirmed that Kyriakou ended Round 1 leading the championship after one victory and two runner-up results. In a six-round series, that early consistency could prove valuable if the race winners keep changing.
What Comes Next for the 2026 Indian Racing Festival?
F4 India will return to Kari Motor Speedway for Round 2, giving the opening-round rivals another shot at the same circuit. The wider Indian Kari Motor Speedway calendar will later add the Indian Racing League, which starts on October 24-25 at the Madras International Circuit in Chennai.
The season is also building toward a December finale at the new Navi Mumbai Street Circuit. Racing Promotions’ official F4 platform describes F4 India as its FIA-backed platform for emerging single-seater racers, while the 2026 plan places the finale in Navi Mumbai.
For now, Coimbatore has produced three winners, two teenage record-makers and an early leader who never finished outside the top two. Round 2 should show whether Kyriakou can hold that advantage.
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FAQs
Who won Race 1 of the 2026 F4 Indian Championship?
South African racer Luviwe Sambudla won Race 1 after charging forward from eighth on grid.
Who won Race 2 at Kari Motor Speedway?
Aryan Narola won Race 2 from pole, beating Aris Kyriakou by just 0.624 seconds overall.
Who leads the F4 Indian Championship after Round 1?
Aris Kyriakou won Race 3 and finished second twice, taking the early championship lead overall.
What record did Aaron Mehta set in Coimbatore?
Aaron Mehta became the championship’s youngest pole-sitter at 15, then claimed podium finishes in Coimbatore.
Where will F4 India race next?
Round 2 returns to Kari Motor Speedway, giving the same drivers another immediate points battle.
