Chennai, Jan 3 (NationPress) The MMSC FMSCI Indian National Car Racing Championship 2025 is reaching a pivotal moment with its third and second-to-last round, scheduled for January 4 to 5 at the Madras International Circuit. Expect fierce competition as all classes vie for crucial points and titles.

This third round was originally set for December 6-7 but was postponed due to adverse weather conditions caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

The weekend’s agenda of 12 races, featuring 61 entries, will prominently showcase two concurrent single-seater categories: Formula 2000 and Formula 1600, both filled with youthful talent.

Bengaluru's Ishaan Madesh, recently crowned the National Karting champion, will rekindle his rivalry with Pune's 17-year-old Arjun Chheda, the current championship leader in the MRF F2000 category, with a mere two points separating them. In a similar vein, Pune's 17-year-old Sai Shiva Shankaran holds a slim lead in the MRF F1600 class, just four points ahead of Bengaluru's Arjun S Nair.

Competitors in other classes, including the Touring Cars—which feature four sub-classes: Indian Touring Cars (ITC), ITC 1625, Indian Junior Touring Cars, and Super Stock—along with the MRF Saloons and Formula LGB 1300, will be closely monitoring their challengers throughout the weekend.

The premier ITC category is set for thrilling races over three scheduled events. Former National champion Arjun Balu from Coimbatore currently leads the championship with a solid 29-point advantage but must remain vigilant of local talent Ritesh Rai from Buzzing Hornet. Rai returned to competitive racing with a stunning triple victory in Round 2, positioning himself for the title, currently sitting at fourth in the standings behind Dhruv Chavan, a privateer from Lonavla, and defending champion Biren Pithawalla from Team N1 Racing in Mumbai.

One of the standout participants is 80-year-old Vidyaprakash Damodaran from Coimbatore (Performance Racing), who recently achieved three consecutive wins, asserting his dominance in the ITC 1625 class and showcasing his enduring competitive spirit even after six decades in racing.

Bengaluru's Rithwik Thomas (Race Concepts) started the season strong with three consecutive victories in Round 1, while Sri Lankan Kesara Godage leads the Super Stock category. Coimbatore's Akshay Muralidharan tops the MRF Saloons (Toyota Etios) class following a double win in the last round.

Nethan McPherson from Pune (Momentum Motorsports) leads the Formula LGB 1300 (Open and Junior) category with three podium finishes but is still in search of his first win in five starts.

Vicky Chandhok, Chairman of the event, remarked: “We are thrilled to welcome competitors back to the Madras International Circuit for the third round. The 12 scheduled races promise to deliver considerable excitement, as there is much at stake. This season has been filled with surprises and intense competition, with many young drivers displaying significant promise. This weekend should showcase even more of that talent.”