National Racing Challenge 2W 2026: Chiranth, Kamal Navas claim pole at Madras Circuit
Synopsis
The inaugural Indian National Racing Challenge 2W 2026 qualifying at Chennai's Madras International Circuit threw up a drama-filled session — Sarthak Chavan set the fastest lap in the premier class but had it deleted for an infringement, handing pole to teammate Chiranth Vishwanath. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Poojita Anil Kumar dominated the Women's One-Make class by over four seconds in just her third season.
Key Takeaways
Chiranth Vishwanath (Petronas TVS Racing, Bengaluru) took pole in Super Sport 301-400cc at 01:48.032 after teammate Sarthak Chavan's faster lap was deleted for an infringement.
Kamal Navas (Team Rockers Racing, Chennai) claimed pole in both the Super Stock 301-400cc and One-Make Open (Apache RR 310) categories.
16-year-old Kabilesh Rajini Krishnan , son of 11-time National champion Rajini Krishnan , qualified third in the Super Stock 301-400cc class.
18-year-old Poojita Anil Kumar (Bengaluru) topped the Women's One-Make Championship by over four seconds in just her third competitive season.
Faruk Ali Sohtun from East Khasi, Meghalaya topped the Stock 165cc Novice class at the Madras International Circuit on 14 August 2026 .
Chiranth Vishwanath of Petronas TVS Racing secured pole position in the premier Super Sport 301-400cc class, while Kamal Navas of Team Rockers Racing topped the Super Stock 301-400cc category as qualifying for the inaugural round of the Indian National Racing Challenge 2W – 2026 got underway at the Madras International Circuit, Chennai, on 14 August 2026. The session set the stage for a double-header weekend of two-wheeler circuit racing featuring competitors from across the country.
Super Sport 301-400cc: Chiranth edges out Sarthak in a dramatic finish
Petronas TVS Racing teammates Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru) and Sarthak Chavan (Pune) locked out the front row in the premier class. Notably, Sarthak had clocked the fastest qualifying lap, but the time was deleted following a track-limits infringement, handing P1 to Chiranth with a best lap of 01:48.032. Sarthak slotted into P2 at 01:48.213, with Hyderabad's Rahil Pillarisetty (RACR Castrol Power1) completing the front row at 01:48.333. Less than a second separated all three riders — a margin that promises fierce racing across the weekend's two rounds. Sarthak, who has reportedly shed weight and sharpened his racecraft following a recent stint in Europe, appeared in strong form despite the time penalty.
Super Stock 301-400cc: Kamal Navas leads a tight Chennai charge
Kamal Navas of Team Rockers Racing clocked 01:54.214 to take pole in the Super Stock 301-400cc Open class. Behind him, the RACR Castrol Power1 pair of Allwin Xavier (Thrissur, 01:56.116) and Kabilesh Rajini Krishnan (Chennai, 01:56.135) qualified second and third respectively, separated by just 0.019 seconds. The 16-year-old Kabilesh is the son of 11-time National champion Rajini Krishnan, adding a notable generational dimension to the grid.
Women and intermediate classes: Ann Jennifer, Poojita Anil Kumar shine
Former National women's champion Ann Jennifer AS (Motul Sparks Racing, Chennai) comfortably claimed pole in the Super Stock up to 165cc Intermediate class with a lap of 02:06.970, well clear of the Ipone Yakuza Racing India pair of Ajai Xavier M (Nagercoil) and Anand Kumar S (Chennai). In the Petronas TVS Racing One-Make Championship Women's category (TVS Apache RTR 200), Bengaluru's Poojita Anil Kumar delivered a standout performance. The 18-year-old, in just her third competitive season, qualified on pole at 02:14.196 — more than four seconds ahead of second-placed Dhrisha Nair (Pune, 02:18.509).
Novice classes and One-Make Open: Faruk Ali, Ashwin R, and Kamal Navas top their sessions
Faruk Ali Sohtun (Motul Sparks Racing), who travelled from East Khasi, Meghalaya, topped the Stock up to 165cc Novice class at 02:09.825, edging Hari Haran R (Coimbatore) by just 0.114 seconds. Ashwin R (Bengaluru) led the Stock 301-400cc Novice category with a 02:01.515 lap. Kamal Navas rounded off a productive qualifying day by also topping the One-Make Open class (TVS Apache RR 310) at 01:55.387, ahead of Rajender Beedani (Hyderabad) and AS James (Bengaluru).
What to watch this weekend
With margins of under a second across the premier classes, the double-header races on 15 and 16 August at the Madras International Circuit are set for close, competitive action. The performance of Sarthak Chavan — who starts from P2 after losing his fastest lap — and the debut of young talents like Kabilesh Rajini Krishnan and Poojita Anil Kumar will be among the key storylines to follow.
Point of View
And now carries the burden of starting second alongside his own teammate. More broadly, the inaugural INRC 2W grid reflects a genuinely diverse talent pool, from a Meghalaya rider making the long haul to Chennai to a second-generation champion's son pushing into the top three. Whether the series can sustain that national breadth across the full season — and whether it builds a broadcast and commercial infrastructure to match — is the real question behind the promising opening day.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who took pole position in the Super Sport 301-400cc class at INRC 2W 2026?
Chiranth Vishwanath of Petronas TVS Racing (Bengaluru) took pole position with a lap time of 01:48.032. His teammate Sarthak Chavan had originally set the fastest time but had it deleted for an infringement, pushing Chiranth to P1.
What is the Indian National Racing Challenge 2W 2026?
The Indian National Racing Challenge 2W – 2026 is a national two-wheeler circuit racing championship. The inaugural round is being held at the Madras International Circuit in Chennai on 14-16 August 2026, featuring multiple classes from novice to premier open categories.
Who is Kabilesh Rajini Krishnan?
Kabilesh Rajini Krishnan is a 16-year-old racer from Chennai and the son of Rajini Krishnan, an 11-time National champion. He qualified third in the Super Stock 301-400cc class at INRC 2W 2026, riding for RACR Castrol Power1.
How did Poojita Anil Kumar perform in qualifying?
Poojita Anil Kumar (Bengaluru), 18 years old and in just her third competitive season, claimed pole in the Women's category of the Petronas TVS Racing One-Make Championship with a lap of 02:14.196 — more than four seconds ahead of second-placed Dhrisha Nair from Pune.
When are the INRC 2W 2026 races scheduled?
The double-header races are scheduled for 15 and 16 August 2026 at the Madras International Circuit in Chennai, following Friday's qualifying session.
