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Goa turned into a high-energy motorsport arena as Round 4 of the Indian Racing Festival lit up the city with thrilling street racing action. With strong crowds, rising local fandom and a vibrant race atmosphere, the Goa street circuit once again showcased the growing appeal of motorsport in India, according to a release from Indian Racing Festival.
The on-track highlight saw Raoul Hyman and Fabienne Wohlwend guide Goa Aces JA Racing to a memorable relay-format victory with a combined time of 42:11.779. Team owners John Abraham (Goa Aces JA Racing), Kichcha Sudeep (Kichcha's Kings Bengaluru), Naga Chaitanya (Hyderabad Black Birds) and Sourav Ganguly (Kolkata Royal Tigers) were present at the venue, adding star presence to a weekend that blended sport, entertainment and destination appeal. Raoul Hyman laid the foundation with a clinical opening stint, setting the fastest lap of 53.527s and steadily stretching his lead on the tight street circuit. Executing a clean run through traffic, Hyman entered the mandatory swap window (19-22 minutes) in control and handed over the car with nearly a 20-second cushion, putting Goa Aces JA Racing firmly on top. Raoul Hyman said, "This was our first time racing in the driver-swap format together, so it was truly a team effort. I managed to bring the car in with the lead, but the safety car meant Fabienne had to handle the restart and the pressure. She did a fantastic job and answered every challenge. I'm really proud of her, and I'm glad we could bring the win home." Fabienne Wohlwend's stint quickly turned into a pressure test when a safety car erased the lead and bunched up the field. The Liechtenstein driver responded with a strong restart, defended confidently and rebuilt her gap despite pressure from Ruhaan Alva. She maintained control to the chequered flag, becoming only the second female race winner in the championship's history. Fabienne Wohlwend said, "There was a lot of pressure, especially after Raoul's strong start and the gap he built. When the safety car came out, my focus was on staying calm and not cracking under pressure. I managed a strong restart, created a gap, and from there it was about keeping things clean and bringing the car home safely." Results: 1st: Goa Aces JA Racing (Raoul Hyman & Fabienne Wohlwend) - 42:11.779 2nd: Kichcha's Kings Bengaluru (Sachel Rotge & Ruhaan Alva) - 42:12.759 3rd: Speed Demons Delhi (Alister Yoong & Caitlin Wood) - 42:16.601 Pole-sitters Kolkata Royal Tigers (Tom Canning & Sohil Shah) retired early after a wheel issue. The win marks Goa Aces JA Racing's 10th victory in the Indian Racing Festival and reinforces how teamwork and composure are decisive on a street circuit where fortunes can change instantly. (ANI)
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