Cyclone Michaung is having a destructive impact on areas of southern India, and has led to further changes to the calendar of the inaugural Indian Formula 4 season.
Extreme flooding has hit several towns and cities including Chennai, which has a permanent circuit to its west and also a street circuit that was supposed to be visited by Indian F4 later this month and host the championship’s first night race.
There had alread been several big changes made to the calendar last month ahead of round two of the season, which led to round three taking place on the permanent Chennai track on December 5/6, round four running on the street circuit on December 9/10 and then the season finale being back at the permanent circuit on December 16/17.
Race three of round two being shortened to four laps by heavy rain was a sign of things to come, as the weather has not let up since then.
Round three was called off yesterday before any track action took place, with the championship confirming to Formula Scout is was due to the extreme weather conditions, and an announcement was also made regarding the status of round four since the cyclone has ripped into the streets of Chennai.
“The Indian F4 championship and Indian Racing League rounds scheduled to be held at the Chennai Formula Racing Circuit [on the streets of Chennai] will now be held at [the permanent] Madras International Circuit on December 9/10 due to the widespread destruction caused by Cyclone Michaung in Chennai city,” read the series’ statement.
If Indian F4 does get to complete its five-round season, it means all 15 races will have taken place at the same track.