Saishiva sankaran

Sri Lankan Kaveen Diyyan Rajapaksa: Saishiva Sankaran from Pune and Chennai’s S. Gyan scored last-gasp victories in the Formula 2000 and Formula 1600 classes, respectively, to provide a thrilling start to the first round of the Indian National Racing Challenge 4W – 2026 at the Madras International Circuit in Chennai on Saturday.

In contrast, Nellore’s Viswas Vijayaraj was in a league of his own as he led a podium sweep for DTS Racing in the Formula LGB 1300 race while Sri Lankan Kaveen Diyyan Rajapaksa (Momentum Motorsports) topped the Junior category.

Pole-sitter Saishiva, winner of the F1600 title last year, had a poor start and was running second behind Navi Mumbai’s Aditya Patnaik with two of the 10 laps to go when they ran into a backmarker. Aditya lost precious tenths of a second negotiating the backmarker, and Saishiva closed the gap. Aditya lost more time when he again ran into a backmarker on the last lap. Saishiva needed no second invitation as he passed Aditya for a win. Aditya had to be content with second place, ahead of Pune’s Swarnav Das.