Akhil Rabindra (born 22 May 1996) is an Indian racing driver.

Akhil Rabindra
Nationality Indian
Born (1996-05-22) 22 May 1996 (age 28)
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
GT4, Formula 3 career
Debut season2010
Current teamPROsport Performance
Racing licence FIA Silver
Car number18
Former teams3Y Technology / Black Bull Garage 59 / Lanan Racing
Championships4
Best finish1st in 2014 & 2015
Previous series
2011
RED BULL Kart fight
JK Tyre MMS Rotax Max Rookie Championship
Amaron Karting Challenge
2012
JK Tyre Racing Championship
JK Tyre Asia Racing Series
2013
Toyota Vios Cup Thailand
Toyota Etios Motor Racing (EMR)
Toyota Etios Colombo night Race
2014
2014 Formula Masters China
JK Tyre Racing Championship
2015
2015 BRDC Formula 4 Championship
JK Tyre Racing Championship
2016
2016 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship
JK Tyre Racing Championship
2017
2017 British GT Championship
2018
GT4 European Series
2018 24H GT Series
2019
GT4 European Series
2019 24H GT Series
2019 Michelin Pilot Challenge
X1Racing
Championship titles
2013 & 2014
2014
JK Tyres Racing Championship 2014
Toyota Etios Motor Racing 2013
Totota Ethios Colombo Night Race2013

Along with racing on track, Akhil is also associated with the Sean Edwards Foundation[1] where he is a safety ambassador.

Early life and Education

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He is a graduate from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Racing career

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Karting and Single-seater racing

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Rabindra started his motorsports career by racing in National Go Karting Championship and Formula LGB Swift in India and by winning the JK Tyres MMS Rotax Max National Rookie Championship 2011, in the same year he also was crowned the Vice Championship of Amaron National Karting Challenge[2] along with Red Bull Kart Fight as Champion.[3] Akhil made his Racing debut in 2012 with JK Tyre National Racing Championship in the LGB Formula-Swift, the entry-level single-seater series. In the same year Rabindra also made two guest appearances in the JK Racing Asia Series finishing a creditable 7th in 3 of the races.

He was the Vice Champion in JK Tyre National Racing Championship 2014.[4][5][6] 2014 saw Akhil competing in the JK Tyre National Racing Championship[7] driving the ex-Formula BMW cars previously raced by the likes of Sebastian Vettal, Nico Rosberg, Daniel Riccardo, Sebastien Buemi and many more. Rabindra gained 9 podium places in the 4 rounds and emerged as the runner-up. Rabindra also raced in a limited programme in the Formula Masters China Series driving the more powerful Tatuus FA010 chassis with a 2.0 Formula engine providing 180 HP with a best finish of 4th.[8]

In 2014 Rabindra was nominated by the FMSCI to represent India for the FIA Institute Young Drivers Excellence Academy, where he won his place for the Asia-Pacific region.[9][10][11][12][13] Rabindra was the Winner of FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Award 2014.[10][9]

In 2015, Rabindra competed in BRDC Formula 4 Championship in the United Kingdom with Wayne Douglas Motorsport, a series for young drivers from all over the world driving the new MSV F4-013, 2-litre Ford Durance engine and paddle shift gearbox. Having to learn a new car and new tracks Rabindra scored 203 points finishing 14th overall. Along with his main programme in BRDC F4 Rabindra also raced in the JK Tyre National Racing Championship.

2016 saw a step up to 2016 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship with the Championship winning team Lanan racing driving the all new Tatuus chassis with adjustable aerodynamics, F1 style splitters and powered by a 2-litre 230 bhp spec Cosworth engine, competing against other young drivers on F1 circuits such as Spa Francorchamps and Silverstone. Rabindra scored 124 points, finishing the series in 18th place overall.

Toyota Etios Motor Racing

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He is the winner of Toyota Etios Colombo Night Race 2013,[14][15] and the Vice Champion in Toyota Etios Motor Racing (EMR) 2013.[16]

In 2012 Rabindra alongside racing in Single seater car, debuted in touring cars driving the Toyota Etios Racing Series, and was the youngest finalist in the saloon car category in the championship and managed a podium finish at the Exhibition Race in Chennai and a strong finish in the race of Champions in Delhi ensuring his place at the Columbia Night Race 2013[17] He was titled Vice Champion in the Toyota Etios Motor Racing "Toyota Etios Motor Racing". Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. 2013.[16] Rabindra won the event from Pole position and was crowned Columbo Night Race Champion.

British GT Championship

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2017

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In the year 2017, he was selected by the McLaren GT Driver Academy[18][19] to race in the British GT Championship[20][21] with team Black Bull Garage 59.[22][23][24] The academy had chosen him along with 7 other drivers from across the world.

Rabindra drove along with his teammate Dean Macdonald. They finished the series with 7th [25] in silver category and finished the series in 13th overall.[26] Their team Black Bull Garage 59 stood 2nd overall[26] in the series. Their team Black Bull Garage 59 stood 2nd overall in the series.[27][28]

24H TCE Series

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2018

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Rabindra had also participated in the 2018 24H TCE Series, 24-hour Silverstone 2018[29] with team Excelr8 Motorsport.

He had also participated in the 24H Series, 24 hours Silverstone 2018[29] with team Excelr8 Motorsport.

GT4 European Series

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2018

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In the 2018 Season, Akhil Rabindra joined the French Team 3Y Technology to drive in the GT4 European Series[30][31][32] in BMW M4 GT4 Car in the silver class alongside Belgian driver Stephene Leveret and finished 18th in the silver category[33] with a best finish of 4th in Race-3[34] and a top 10 result in the French GT4 round in Spain.[35] The season began on 6 April 2018 at Zolder and ended on 16 September 2018 at Nürburgring. The Team finished 12th with 147 points.[33]

2019

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For the 2019 Season, Akhil Rabindra was selected as the Aston Martin Racing Academy Driver [36][37][38][39][40][41][42] and competed in the GT4 European Series in an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for PROsport Performance[43][44][45] and Rabindra teamed up with 23-year-old Swiss racer Florian Thoma. The 2019 GT4 European Series began at Autodromo Nazionale Monza Italy on 12–14 April where Akhil finished 8th and 7th in 2 races securing 10 points.[46]

He took 2nd in the Race-1 at the GT4 European Series held at Brands Hatch UK on 4 to 5 May 2019[43][47][48][49][50][51][52][53]

2020

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Akhil Rabindra was among 12 drivers to be retained by the Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy for the 2020 season.[54]

24H GT series

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2019

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Akhil with his team PROsport Performance achieved the first podium for the New Aston Martin Vantage GT4 by finishing 2nd in the 2019 24H GT Series European held at Mugello Circuit Italy on 29 to 30 March 2019.[55] He won in the 2019 24H GT Series European at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Belgium on 19 to 20 April[56]

He and his team scored 3rd in the GT4 class at 2019 24H GT Series European held at Brno Circuit Czech Republic on 24 to 25 May.[57][58][59][60]

X1 Racing League

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Akhil Rabindra has been selected by Blackbirds Hyderabad for the Inaugural Season of the X1 Racing League[61]

IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge

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2019

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Further, Akhil debuted in the International Motor Sports Association 2019 Michelin Pilot Challenge held at Road America, United States on 2 to 4 August and the next round held at Virginia International Raceway, on 23 to 25 August. Akhil Rabindra and teammate Ross Gunn raced to a sixth-place finish at Virginia International Raceway for Stoner Car Care on Saturday in the Automatic Racing-prepared No. 09 Stoner Car Care Aston Martin GT4. The results marked the team's best finish of the year as the squad continued to learn more each time out with the all-new Aston Martin Vantage GT4 platform.[62][63][64][65][66][67]

Racing Record

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Career summary

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Year Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2012 JK Racing Asia Series season Meco Racing 6 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2014 Formula Masters China Meco Motorsports 8 0 0 0 0 14 17th
2015 BRDC Formula 4 Championship Douglas Motorsport 24 0 0 0 0 203 13th
2016 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship Lanan Racing 23 0 0 0 0 124 18th
2017 British GT Championship - GT4 Black Bull Garage 59 10 0 0 0 0 45.5 13th
2018 GT4 European Series - Silver 3Y Technology 12 0 0 0 0 27 18th
French GT4 Cup - Pro Am 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24H TCE Series - TCR Excelr8 Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2019 GT4 European Series - Silver PROsport Performance 10 0 1 1 1 57 8th
24H TCE Series - SP3 2 2 1 0 2 18 1st
ADAC GT4 Germany PROpeak Performance 2 0 0 0 0 13 28th
Michelin Pilot Challenge - GT4 Automatic Racing AMR 4 0 1 0 0 59 42nd
24H GT Series - GT4 PROsport Performance AMR 7 2 0 0 4 49 3rd
2020 French GT4 Cup - Pro Am AGS Events 12 0 0 0 0 58 9th
2021 GT4 European Series - Silver AGS Events 8 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2022 GT4 European Series - Silver Racing Spirit of Léman 12 0 0 2 2 88 8th
Indian Racing League Hyderabad Blackbirds 6 3 2 1 3 147 1st
2023 GT4 European Series - Pro-Am Racing Spirit of Léman 12 0 0 0 0 44 14th
Indian Racing League Hyderabad Blackbirds 4 0 0 0 1 56‡ 6th‡
2024 Indian Racing League Hyderabad Blackbirds

‡ Team standings.

Indian Racing League results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Franchise 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos. Pts
2022 Hyderabad Blackbirds HYD1
1

C
HYD1
2

C
HYD1
3

C
IRU1
1

IRU1
2

1
IRU1
3

1
IRU2
1

5
IRU2
2

IRU2
3

1
HYD2
1

HYD2
2

5
HYD2
3

Ret
1st 143
2023 Hyderabad Blackbirds IRU1
1

Ret1
IRU1
2

Ret
IRU2
1

IRU2
2

3
IRU3
1

5
IRU3
2

6th 56
2024 Hyderabad Blackbirds IRU1
1
IRU1
2

2
IGR
1
IGR
2

6
IRU2
1
IRU2
2

Ret
KAR
1

KAR
2

TBC
1
TBC
2
9th* 27*

‡ Standings based on entry points, not individual drivers.

  • 1 – Replaced a withdrawn driver.

* Season in progress.

References

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  1. ^ "Akhil Rabindra - Ambassador of the Sean Edwards Foundation".
  2. ^ "Amaron Karting Challenge Season 3: Championship Report".
  3. ^ "Red Bull Kart Fight winners announced".
  4. ^ "Akhil Rabindra reigns". The Hindu. 9 August 2015 – via www.thehindu.com.
  5. ^ "Akhil, Vishnu, Sailesh win in Round 1 of JK Racing". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 8 August 2015 – via Business Standard.
  6. ^ "Akhil, Vishnu Star on Day 1". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Akhil Rabindra wins at JK Tyre racing". 9 November 2014.
  8. ^ Ashok, Kalyan (15 June 2014). "Vrooming to glory". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  9. ^ a b Team, CarDekho (1 November 2013). "Indian driver Akhil Rabindra wins FIA Academy Asia-Pacific Selection". Business Standard India – via Business Standard.
  10. ^ a b "Indian driver Akhil Rabindra wins FIA Academy selection - Times of India". The Times of India. 31 October 2013.
  11. ^ "FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety and Sustainability". www.fiainstitute.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  12. ^ "FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety and Sustainability". www.fiainstitute.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  13. ^ "Indian driver wins FIA Academy Asia-Pacific Selection - Techglimpse". 2 November 2013.
  14. ^ "Ten EMR drivers for Colombo races". 14 December 2012.
  15. ^ "Welcome to Toyota Etios Motor Racing". www.toyotaetiosmotorracing.in. Archived from the original on 24 October 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  16. ^ a b "Toyota Etios Motor Racing 2013 final results - Overdrive". Overdrive.
  17. ^ "Akhil: Racing away to glory". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
  18. ^ "Welcome". epaper.thehindu.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  19. ^ "Akhil Rabindra set to compete in British GT championship in 2017". Moneycontrol. 9 March 2017.[dead link]
  20. ^ "INDIAN RACER AKHIL RABINDRA SELECTED BY McLAREN GT DRIVER ACADEMY – FMSCI". www.fmsci.co.in.
  21. ^ "Akhil Rabindra to drive in British GT". autocarindia.com.
  22. ^ "INDIAN RACER AKHIL RABINDRA SELECTED BY McLAREN GT DRIVER ACADEMY – FMSCI".
  23. ^ "Akhil Rabindra set to compete in British GT championship in 2017".
  24. ^ "McLaren GT Academy Expands to Eight Drivers – Sportscar365". 8 March 2017.
  25. ^ "British GT4 Silver Drivers - Standings - Official Site of British GT Championship". www.britishgt.com.
  26. ^ a b "British GT4 Drivers - Standings - Official Site of British GT Championship". www.britishgt.com.
  27. ^ "AKHIL RABINDRA SECURED A PODIUM IN HIS DEBUT – FMSCI". www.fmsci.co.in.
  28. ^ "Akhil Rabindra Secures a Podium in his Debut at the British GT Championship held at Oulton Park – Silicon City News". www.siliconcitynews.com.
  29. ^ a b "24H SERIES 24H SILVERSTONE 2018". www.24hseries.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2018.
  30. ^ "3Y Technology reveals lineup for 2018 campaign". Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  31. ^ chokhani, darshan (2 April 2018). "Akhil Rabindra Switches To GT4 European Series For 2018 season".
  32. ^ Chokhani, Darshan (1 April 2018). "Rabindra drove the BMW M4 in GT4 European series for 2018 season". Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  33. ^ a b "GT4 European Series". Archived from the original on 16 March 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  34. ^ "Akhil Rabindra Finishes 4th in Race 3 of 2018 GT4 European Championship".
  35. ^ "Rabindra/Visser scores Top 10 result in French GT4 round in Spain". sportsflashes.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2018.
  36. ^ "Akhil Rabindra becomes only Asian to land an Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy Spot". Hindustan Times. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  37. ^ "Akhil lands spot in Aston Martin racing driver academy". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 30 March 2019.
  38. ^ "Aston Martin picks 23 drivers for revised academy scheme shootout". 29 March 2019.
  39. ^ "23 pilotes retenus dans le programme Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy". Endurance Info.
  40. ^ "Indian racer Akhil Rabindra only Asian to make it to Aston Martin racing driver academy".
  41. ^ "Aston Martin reveals AMR Driver Academy candidates".
  42. ^ "Akhil lands spot in Aston Martin racing driver academy | Racing News - Times of India". The Times of India. 30 March 2019.
  43. ^ a b "Motorsport.com: F1 News, MotoGP, NASCAR, Rallying and more". www.motorsport.com. 12 July 2024.
  44. ^ "PROsport Performance confirms Thoma and Rabindra | GT4 European Series". Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  45. ^ "Rabindra signs with PROsport to drive Aston Martin in 2019 European GT4 series". 6 March 2019. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  46. ^ "Silver Cup | GT4 European Series". european.gt4series.com. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019.
  47. ^ "Akhil Rabindra takes second spot in Race One". 6 May 2019.
  48. ^ https://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/Sports/20190506/3538232.html [dead link]
  49. ^ "Akhil Rabindra finishes second in Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit". 6 May 2019.
  50. ^ "Akhil Rabindra confident of great finish at Brand Hatch GP Circuit". 5 May 2019.
  51. ^ "Yahoo Search - Web Search". in.search.yahoo.com.
  52. ^ "Rabindra finishes 2nd in Race 1 at European GT4". 5 May 2019.
  53. ^ "Rabindra finishes 2nd in Race 1 at European GT4".
  54. ^ Harpal Singh Bedi (31 July 2020). "Akhil Rabindra retained by Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy". NetIndian. Retrieved 1 August 2020. Akhil Rabindra is among 12 elite drivers from around the world to be retained by the prestigious Aston Martin Racing (AMR) Driver Academy for the 2020 season.
  55. ^ "Rabindra/Verdonck/Gillion scores GT4 class podium in Mugello 12 Hours". 2 April 2019. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  56. ^ "Rabindra/Gillion/Verdonk/Munemann claims GT4 class win in Spa 12 Hours". 22 April 2019. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  57. ^ "Akhil Rabindra and his team scores GT4 class podium in 12H BRNO 2019". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 26 May 2019.
  58. ^ "Indian racer bags podium in European Championship racing | Delhi News - Times of India". The Times of India. 26 May 2019.
  59. ^ "Akhil Rabindra and His Team Scores GT4 Class Podium in 12H BRNO 2019". 26 May 2019.
  60. ^ "Akhil Rabindra and his team scores GT4 class podium in 12H BRNO 2019 | Sports-Games".
  61. ^ Laghate, Gaurav. "Six teams, 30 drivers to take part in inaugural X1 Racing League". The Economic Times.
  62. ^ "Akhil Rabindra and Ross Gunn Deliver Sixth Place Finish for Stoner Car Care at VIR". www.stonercarcare.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2019.
  63. ^ "Akhil Rabindra and Ross Gunn Deliver Sixth Place Finish for Stoner Car Care at VIR".
  64. ^ "New Driver Lineups for Automatic Racing Invisible Glass and Stoner Car Care Aston Martins".
  65. ^ "Akhil Rabindra and Ross Gunn finish sixth". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 26 August 2019.
  66. ^ "IMSA Series: Heavy rain mars Akhil Rabindra's debut podium finish". 5 August 2019.
  67. ^ Article title[usurped]
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