Formula One won’t happen before 2029, but pushing for WRC: Arindam

Formula One won't happen before 2029, but pushing for WRC: Arindam Published – August 20, 2026 03: 15 am IST – Chennai.

Key points

• The first two rounds of the four-round season will be held at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore (Sept.
• The third round will be run at BREN Raceway in Bengaluru (Nov.
• F1 won't happen before 2029, but I am pushing for WRC before that.
• The logo of the new National championship was introduced by A.
• "I won't be shocked if, instead of BIC, we are having a street circuit as we don't have a maintenance issue right through the year, " he continued.

Arindam Ghosh, Akbar Ebrahim, A. Srinath and other dignitaries. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement.

Even as there is a renewed push to bring Formula One back to India, FMSCI president Arindam Ghosh remarked the federation is additionally pursuing opportunities to bring the World Rally Championship (WRC) to the country.

"F1 won't happen before 2029, but I am pushing for WRC before that. You don't need massive infrastructure for that. What we need is road sanitisation and administration administration backing. The administration is supportive of it, " stated Arindam on the sidelines of the launch of the Chennai Turbo Riders-JK Tyre FMSCI Indian National Car Racing Championship 2026 here on Wednesday.

For context, the logo of the new National championship was introduced by A. Srinath, Minister of Fisheries & Fisherman Welfare, Govt. Of TN.

"I would like to express my gratitude to CTR and JK Tyre for their support and commitment to promoting motorsport in the country, and creating a road safety awareness, " remarked Srinath.

Akbar Ebrahim, Member, FIA World Motor Sport Council and President, FIA International Karting Commission, remarked: "Indian motorsport is being keenly viewed and watched by the FIA as it is a very important country at the global level."

For context, the first two rounds of the four-round season will be held at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore (Sept. 11-13 and Oct. 23-25).

For context, the third round will be run at BREN Raceway in Bengaluru (Nov. 13-15) while the final round will be at the Madras International Circuit (Dec. 11-13).

There will be seven categories in the National championship: Indian Super Touring Cars, Indian Touring Cars, Indian Junior Touring Cars, Super Stock, Levitas Cup, Formula LGB F4 and Formula 1300.

For now, formula One won't happen before 2029, but pushing for WRC: Arindam remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.