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Vijay flags off Michelin Le Mans Cup for India at Silverstone

By Drooid · Sep 13, 2026, 4:21 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Vijay Flags Race

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay flagged off the Michelin Le Mans Cup race at Silverstone, UK.
Ajith Kumar, Romain Vozniak, Narain Karthikeyan and Aditya Patel raced for India in the LMP3 class.
The Silverstone round ran a 44-car grid and lasted 1 hour 50 minutes, shorter than usual.
Vijay’s UK tour aimed to draw investment, assess facilities for Tamil Nadu’s Motor Sports City, which Ajith Kumar called a giant leap.

Summary

Vijay Arrives London

Vijay arrived in London on Friday, September 11, publicly marking his first foreign trip since the May 2026 election.
He met Tamil Nadu Public Works and Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna before the flag-off and discussed detailed infrastructure plans.
A sizable Tamil diaspora crowd filled the stands, showing enthusiastic community interest in the Silverstone event.

History

Historical Context

The inaugural Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit in 2008 marked India's first Formula 1 race, drawing global attention. Organized by the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone, the event cost approximately $250 million and attracted 110,000 spectators on race day. Similarly, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s 2026 Silverstone visit seeks to replicate that momentum by showcasing Indian drivers and courting overseas investors. If successful, the initiative could spur a $1 billion motorsport-city project in Chennai, echoing the Grand Prix’s legacy of expanding India’s automotive sector.

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Vijay Flags Race

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay flagged off the Michelin Le Mans Cup race at Silverstone, UK.
Ajith Kumar, Romain Vozniak, Narain Karthikeyan and Aditya Patel raced for India in the LMP3 class.
The Silverstone round ran a 44-car grid and lasted 1 hour 50 minutes, shorter than usual.
Vijay’s UK tour aimed to draw investment, assess facilities for Tamil Nadu’s Motor Sports City, which Ajith Kumar called a giant leap.

1 / 3