Indian driver Krishnaraaj Mahadik will compete in the 2016 BRDC Formula 4 Championship driving for Chris Dittmann Racing, it has been confirmed today (January 29). Mahadik graduates from the JK Tyre National Racing Championship in his native country, where he competed in the premier JK Racing India Series and the Formula LGB Swift category.
Mahadik, who hails from Kolhapur in India, began his motorsport career in 2008, racing in the cadet class of the MRF Indian National Karting Championship and quickly achieved success. He won the 2012 Indian Rotax Max Challenge and was subsequently selected to represent his country at the prestigious Rotax Max World Finals held at Portimão, Portugal. He repeated the feat the very next year and once again headed to the World Finals as India’s representative, this time in New Orleans, United States.
The 17-year-old made his single-seater debut in 2014 with a fully funded drive in the JK Racing India Series alongside his karting commitments, before focusing fully on his car racing career in 2015. He finished third overall in the Racing India Series, competing against fellow BRDC F4 driver Akhil Rabindra, and fourth in the Formula LGB Swift category.
Due to schooling commitments, Mahadik will miss the first round of the 2016 BRDC Formula 4 season at Snetterton on March 27/28, so will make his debut at the second meeting of the season held at Brands Hatch on April 16/17.
Mahadik said: “It feels great to sign up for the 2016 BRDC Formula 4 Championship. I was impressed with Chris Dittmann Racing’s performance in 2015 and that definitely attracted me to the team, so I am looking forward to a good season. Moving into BRDC F4 is definitely a good step in my career; the new Tatuus-Cosworth is an amazing machine, very quick and I’m excited to drive it.”
Chris Dittmann, Team Principal of Chris Dittmann Racing, commented: “It’s fantastic to complete our line-up for 2016 and we’re really pleased to welcome Krishnaraaj to the team. We have been in discussions for a while now and it’s great to confirm him as our final driver for the season. With his previous race experience in India, I’m sure it won’t take long for him to get to grips with the car and UK circuits.
“Unfortunately Krishnaraaj is unable to take part in the first race meeting due to school exams back in India, however with a strong testing programme arranged I’m confident he will hit the ground running when he gets to Brands Hatch for the second round. It’s great to have all three drivers signed well before the start of the championship and I believe we have a very strong driver line-up.”
The 2016 BRDC Formula 4 Championship features 24 races across eight weekends, and gets underway at Snetterton on March 27/28.
For more information about the BRDC F4 Championship, visit www.formula4.com.
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