Naga Chaitanya owned Hyderabad Blackbirds rope in the top in business for IRF 2025

Unveils a dynamic and diverse driver line-up for the upcoming Indian Racing Festival (IRF) 2025

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Blackbirds, owned by film star and motorsport enthusiast Naga Chaitanya, have unveiled a dynamic and diverse driver line-up for the upcoming Indian Racing Festival (IRF) 2025.

The announcement was made as part of the Indian Racing League’s historic first-ever driver draft held in Mumbai. In a thrilling session earlier in the evening, 24 drivers were selected across six city-based franchises for the upcoming IRL season.

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Each team picked four drivers, creating a balanced and competitive lineup that includes an experienced international driver, an emerging international or Indian-origin talent, a domestic Indian driver, and a female driver.

Leading the charge is British ace Jon Lancaster, a former GP2 winner and Le Mans podium finisher, bringing a wealth of international racing experience to the team. He is joined by Akshay Bohra, a rising Indian-origin star with impressive stints in Formula 4 championships across Europe and the UAE. Adding to the homegrown talent pool is Mohamed Ryan, a promising young racer with a solid background in sim racing and Formula 4.

Completing the team is Gabriela Jilkova from the Czech Republic, a globally recognised sim and GT racing specialist known for her speed and technical precision.
“This brings our collective vision to life when it comes to the Indian Racing Festival 2025,” said Akhilesh Reddy, chairman and managing director of Racing Promotions Pvt. Ltd. (RPPL), the organisation behind IRF.

“With this driver draft, we’re building a new foundation for motorsport in India – one that’s inclusive, structured, and deeply competitive,” he said.

“The Driver Draft for IRL 2025 celebrates talent, promotes competence, and builds serious anticipation for the racing season. What we’re doing here is building a sport for India, by India, with the world watching,” Akhilesh said.