The X1 Racing League — World’s First City-Based Motorsport Championship League To Happen In India

The X1 Racing League: India to host the 'World's First City-Based Motorsports League' in 2019. Titled as the 'X1 Racing League', the one-of-a-kind championship will be headed by top Indian car racers Armaan Ebrahim and Aditya Patel. The 'X1' or 'Xtreme1' Racing League will involve made-in-India two-seater sportscars pacing through a mix of city and track circuits.

As per reports, the league will witness the participation of eight city-based franchise teams, comprising of two cars and four drivers. The X1 Racing League is also supported by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs in India (FMSCI) – the governing body of all motorsports events in the country.

The X1 Racing League — World’s First City-Based Motorsport Championship League To Happen In India

The coordinators are also planning to involve popular international race drivers from Formula One, Formula E, Indy 500, Le Mans and NASCAR in the league. This will help in giving India, a good exposure in international motorsports.

The X1 Racing League — World’s First City-Based Motorsport Championship League To Happen In India

As mentioned earlier, each team will comprise four drivers: one international male and a female driver, one Indian international driver and one Indian domestic driver. The Indian international driver will have five or more years of driving experience in global series, while the domestic driver will be a young upcoming racer selected from various national championships in the country.

The X1 Racing League — World’s First City-Based Motorsport Championship League To Happen In India

The X1 Racing League aims to promote women empowerment in the country too, with the inclusion of female participants in motorsports. Women racers will race with male drivers in the push towards gender neutrality.

The X1 Racing League — World’s First City-Based Motorsport Championship League To Happen In India

Budding racers and young car enthusiasts can also aid from this, as the league will provide an equal platform for both rookies and champions to compete. Young drivers will finally have an answer to the question – "How can I become a racing driver in India?"

The X1 Racing League — World’s First City-Based Motorsport Championship League To Happen In India

Races will be conducted on Saturdays and Sundays on four consecutive weekends in the first quarter of 2019. Each race will have a duration of 45 minutes; three races a day. The league will extend a year-long domestic season of over 12 races. The Indian drivers and ‘patron's seat*' will score points for the team throughout the year.

*The patron's seat involves the team owner or an appointed individual racing on their behalf.

The X1 Racing League — World’s First City-Based Motorsport Championship League To Happen In India

The track sessions will be held at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) and Madras Motor Race Track (MMRT) while street circuits will be formed in cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Mumbai.

The X1 Racing League also aims to break the common myths revolving around motorsports in India, such as:

  • Participation in motorsports are for the affluent
  • Motorsports is highly dangerous and even lethal
  • Motorsports is solely for men
  • The X1 Racing League — World’s First City-Based Motorsport Championship League To Happen In India

    Speaking about the league, Armaan shared, "Team owners in X1 are guaranteed high-visibility and potentially high-ROI due to the sound commercial model of ownership of the teams, and also revenue distribution of the league. At 6.5-7Cr per year all-inclusive, ownership is priced super competitively as all aspects are managed centrally to optimize and streamline the costs."

    The X1 Racing League — World’s First City-Based Motorsport Championship League To Happen In India

    Meanwhile, Aditya says, "Armaan and I have been discussing the concept of a Motorsport league for a couple of years now and we're excited to finally be able to get our idea of the ground and to the market. We believe that our concept will change the way people look at Motorsport, not just in India but all over the world as well. We thank the FMSCI for their support of the league and backing our vision. We cannot wait for the Indian audiences to experience motorsports like never before."

    Thoughts On The X1 Racing League

    The main aim of the X1 Racing League is to promote motorsports in India, the way it is meant to be. Unlike most foreign countries, India isn't very supportive of motorsport events. It is only recently that manufacturers such as Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra, Volkswagen India etc. started conducting four-wheeler motorsport championships in the country.

    Everything is meant to change with the commencement of the X1 Racing League. Finally, Indian car enthusiasts will have something to cheer for, other than cricket or football!

    *Racing images are for representational purposes only.

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Read more on: #motorsport #off beat
Article Published On: Monday, June 11, 2018, 11:38 [IST]
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