Fabienne Wohlwend wins big as Goa hosts its first-ever street race

Fabienne Wohlwend took a commanding victory in Round 4 of the Indian Racing League at the Goa Street Race, a win that pushed her to the top of the championship standings. Representing Goa Aces JA Racing, she stayed calm and precise on the tight street circuit, managing the pressure of racing in front of her team’s home crowd. It marked her first win in the series, and it couldn’t have come at a bigger moment, at one of the most anticipated rounds of the season.

The Indian Racing Festival (IRF) is India’s biggest home-grown racing event. It brings professional single-seater racing to different cities across the country, turning regular roads into race tracks for a weekend. The festival includes the Indian Racing League (IRL) and Formula 4, giving fans a mix of experienced international drivers and young upcoming talent.

One of the most special parts of IRL is its format. Teams represent different Indian cities, and each team must field at least one female driver. That rule has made the championship one of the most diverse grids you’ll see anywhere. It also means fans get to watch some of the best women racers in the world competing wheel-to-wheel with top male drivers.

Goa gets its first street race

Round 4 was special. After a few calendar changes earlier in the season, the Goa Street Circuit finally happened. The 2.064 km, 12-turn track was built right outside Manohar International Airport (MOPA). Seeing race cars fly past an airport backdrop felt unreal. This was the first time Goa hosted a street race, and the energy showed. The tight layout left very little room for mistakes. Barriers were close, overtaking needed commitment, and every lap demanded focus.

Fabienne Wohlwend takes control

For the home team, Goa Aces JA Racing, it turned into a dream weekend. Fabienne Wohlwend delivered when it mattered most. After showing strong pace earlier in the season at Kari, she claimed her first Indian Racing League win at the first-ever Goa Street Race. The victory pushed her to the top of the championship standings. 

“It feels amazing to win here,” she told Females in Motorsport.

“Street racing is always something special, doing a driver change in a Formula racing car is a whole different challenge. Rolled in a mega start, and I loved it.

“Motorsport is my life, my passion, the 7-year-old me would be proud today.”

Women at the front of the grid

Fabienne’s win was the headline, but she wasn’t the only woman shaping the story in Goa. Gabriela Jilkova started from pole position, underlining her speed and consistency once again. Although she couldn’t convert pole into victory, her pace across the weekend showed why she remains one of the strongest contenders in the series.

Caitlin Wood from Speed Demons Delhi continued what has been one of the most consistent campaigns this season. Regular top-five finishes had already put her in the conversation, but in Goa, she finally secured her first IRL podium.  It was a well-earned result that showed how steady performances eventually pay off.

Rookie Jem Hepworth has had a learning curve in her first IRL season, showing flashes of pace but also facing challenges. Meanwhile, Laura Camps Torras, back with Hyderabad Blackbirds, once again showed fighting spirit despite reliability issues that have affected her campaign.

Goa also saw the debut of Jemma Moore, stepping in for Hervé. She carries a strong racing background; she is the sister of Sarah Moore, the first woman to win a race in IRL history. All eyes will be on how she settles into the championship.

What makes this championship stand out is that women are equally competitive as men. Fabienne is leading the standings. Gabriela is qualifying on pole. Caitlin is securing podiums. Others are developing, adapting, and fighting hard in every session.

This is an ongoing shift. When a series guarantees seats for women and puts them in equal machinery, the conversation changes. It stops being about whether they belong and starts being about how they perform.

As the championship heads into Round 5, the spotlight will remain on the battle at the front. And for now, that spotlight belongs to Fabienne Wohlwend, a race winner, a championship leader,