Latest news with #MahaveerRaghunathan
Hans India
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hans India
Mahaveer Raghunathan holds P2 in Italian GT Championship after Mugello round
Italy: As the Italian GT Championship reaches its halfway mark, Mahaveer Raghunathan continues to make a strong impression in his debut season with AF Corse, currently holding P2 in the overall Sprint Championship standings, just two points off the leader, and P3 in the Endurance Championship. Mahaveer shares driving duties in the Endurance Cup with Italian racers Lorenzo Ferrari and Riccardo Ponzio, forming a strong and well-balanced trio for AF Corse. Mahaveer and his co-drivers began the season with a strong showing at Misano, finishing P4 despite an early-race contact that cost them valuable time. The team recovered well with solid pace and strategy but missed the podium by just 1 second. In race 1, Mahaveer finished P2 with competitive pace and a smart strategy. In race 2, he delivered a stellar drive, jumping to P1 after the pitstop and maintaining the lead under pressure. He dominated the restart and crossed the finish line with a commanding race win, moving to the top of the championship standings. A strong qualifying effort saw the team start P3. Mahaveer and his teammates maintained front-running pace throughout the race and brought the car home in P2. Despite carrying a 15-second success handicap from the previous win, the team finished P4, narrowly missing the podium by just one-tenth of a second. Finished P5 after an unfortunate sequence of events. A poorly timed safety car right after the pitstop neutralized their strategy, preventing tyre warm-up and leaving Mahaveer vulnerable at the restart. A subsequent contact led to further position losses. Mahaveer shared, 'Overall, the first half of the season has been solid. Four podiums and a win are encouraging, but I know we can push for more. I've learnt a lot, not just about raw speed but about race craft, restarts and managing races under pressure. I'm looking forward to applying those lessons and coming back stronger at Imola on August 3rd.' From the Pit Wall: Amato Ferrari, Team Principal – AF Corse said, 'I've been working with Mahaveer since the WEC rookie test in Bahrain last November. He's a very focused driver, always immersed in driving and racing. Since joining the team, Mahaveer has adapted well to the Ferrari 296 GT3. The engineers are pleased with his progress. He is working well alongside Lorenzo Ferrari in the sprint and in the endurance championship with Lorenzo and Riccardo Ponzio. The goal for all of us is the same, to win the championship, so we keep pushing.' With two more rounds each in the Endurance and Sprint formats still to come, Mahaveer Raghunathan and the AF Corse team are in strong contention, fully focused on turning early-season promise into a championship-winning campaign.
Hans India
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hans India
Mahaveer takes dominant victory in race 2 of Italian GT Sprint C'ship
Italy: India's Mahaveer Raghunathan delivered a spectacular performance in Race 2 of the Italian GT Sprint Championship, claiming a commanding P1 overall finish for AF Corse in the #51 Ferrari 296 GT3, shared with teammate Lorenzo Ferrari. This follows their strong P2 finish in Race 1, making it a double podium weekend and a statement of intent for the 2025 season. Starting from pole position, Lorenzo Ferrari led the field into Turn 1 but dropped to second early in his stint. He held the position with a consistent pace before handing the car over to Mahaveer at the pit window. A smooth and well-executed pit stop allowed Mahaveer to jump into the lead, capitalising on a delay from the leading car during their stop. From there, Mahaveer put in a commanding drive, stretching out a gap over the chasing pack with relentless pace and focus. He brought the car home 5 seconds clear of the competition to claim a well-deserved overall race win. Mahaveer Raghunathan shared, 'Lorenzo started the race from P1 but lost the lead at the start and stayed in P2 through his stint. During the pit stop, we were able to gain time and jump into the lead. From there, I just focused on clean, consistent laps and was able to pull away. Really proud to bring it home with a P1 overall finish for the team.' He added, 'Big thanks to my whole team for a fantastic strategy and a great car throughout the weekend.' Following the double podium at Vallelunga, Mahaveer Raghunathan now leads the GT3 Pro-Am Championship standings in P1 and holds P2 in the overall Italian GT Sprint Championship. Born in Chennai, the 26-year-old Mahaveer Raghunathan has come through the ranks. He has tested the Formula 1 race car twice, for Alfa Romeo Racing C38 in August 2021, becoming the third Indian to drive a Formula One car. Two years later, he tested a McLaren MCL35 at Portimão, completing a distance of 750 km over two days of testing with the prestigious McLaren F1 team.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Mahaveer & Ferrari win Race-2 of Italian GT Sprint Championship
India's Mahaveer Raghunathan and teammate Lorenzo Ferrari won Race-2 of the opening round of the Italian GT Sprint Championship at Vallelunga. It followed a second-place finish in Race-1 earlier in the weekend, making it a double-podium. The pair now leads the GT3 Pro-Am championship standings and is second overall in the Italian GT Sprint Championship.
