Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography
British Formula 4 race-winner Dion Gowda has become the first driver to be announced as racing in the new Indian F4 championship.
The single-seater rookie started 2023 in F4 United Arab Emirates, and came 25th in the standings for Rodin Carlin. He only scored twice, but once he headed to British F4 with the team he was far more competitive and currently sits third in the standings with three wins and three poles.
The Indian-born racer competed under a Singaporean license in karting, including representing the country in the FIA Karting Academy Trophy where he came fifth. Other standout results include eighth in the Champions of the Future series and ninth in the CIK-FIA World championship at the OK-Junior level, and 29th in the WSK Super Master Series on OK karts.
“I’m hugely excited to join the grid for the inaugural FIA F4 Indian Championship,” said Gowda. “Ever since the series was announced I have been following the news closely, and I can’t imagine a better way of ending our 2023 season than racing in front of a home crowd at the Buddh and Chennai circuits.
“It’s been a great year so far representing India in the British F4 series, scoring three wins and placing third with two events to go. I’m aiming to replicate this success on home soil and can’t wait to get started.”
The inaugural Indian F4 season starts later this year, with the series’ cars being centrally run by Dutch team MP Motorsport.
“The signing of the first driver, the first of any winter championship in 2023, suggests drivers are looking at this championship with interest,” said Akhilesh Reddy, chairman of Indian F4’s promoter Racing Promotions Private, in a statement shared with Formula Scout.
“The timing, the availability of FIA superlicense points, brand new cars, the opportunity to work with MP Motorsport, a small grid of 12 cars and the list can go on.
“Our aim is to provide drivers with an affordable, equal and competitive championship at this time of the year when they usually spend their time testing. The full championship costs roughly 10 days of testing in Europe.”