Bishop’s School in Pune Becomes First Flagship Partner School for Official F1® Sim Racing India Open Programme
Partnership brings simulator-based racing education and talent development opportunities to students
Pune, 18th June 2026: Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited (MFRL) today announced The Bishop’s School, Pune as the first Flagship Partner School under the Official F1® Sim Racing India Open Programme, a school-focused initiative aimed at introducing students to the world of sim racing and identifying emerging motorsport talent at an early stage.
Under the initiative, partner schools will receive simulator infrastructure, training support and structured learning modules designed to introduce students to competitive sim racing and help identify emerging racing talent. Established in 1864, The Bishop’s School was chosen as MFRL’s first Flagship Partner School for its strong tradition of academic and sporting excellence, including recognition through the Commonwealth Youth Games Pune Award in 2008.
Pune makes an ideal starting point for the Flagship Partner School programme given its strong connection with motorsport and automotive innovation in India. The city has produced generations of racing enthusiasts and competitors, supported by established motorsport infrastructure, a strong engineering culture and an active grassroots community, which is an ideal environment to introduce structured sim racing programmes and identify students with the potential to pursue motorsport at a higher level.
Speaking at the event, Ameet Gadhoke, Managing Director, Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited said, “One of the objectives behind bringing the F1® Sim Racing Programme to India is to make motorsport more accessible to young people across the country. Schools are an important part of that effort because they allow us to engage students and parents at an early stage and introduce them to a discipline that combines skill, focus, technology and competition. We are delighted to welcome The Bishop’s School as the first Flagship Partner School and look forward to create curiosity and opportunities for students who are interested in motorsports.”
Mr. Shayne McPherson, Principal and Honorary Secretary, The Bishop’s School, said, ”At The Bishop’s School, we have always believed in providing students with opportunities that extend beyond the traditional classroom and encourage them to explore emerging fields of interest. This partnership introduces our students to a globally recognised sport through a structured and educational format. Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited brings significant experience in developing young talent and competing at the highest levels of international motorsport, making them an ideal partner as we look to expose our students to new avenues for learning, competition and personal growth.”
As the first school to join the programme, The Bishop’s School will work with MFRL to establish a sim racing environment within the school premises and provide students access to training and participation opportunities linked to the wider F1® India Programme. By partnering with schools, MFRL aims to introduce students to the sport in a safe, accessible and educational setting while building awareness of emerging opportunities within motorsport.
The F1® Sim Racing India Open 2026 will span 10 cities across India, with participants competing on professional-grade simulators across Formula One circuits. Online qualifiers are currently open and city-based simulator rounds will follow, culminating in a national final at the NSCI Dome, Mumbai in November 2026.
About Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited
Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited (MFRL) is one of India’s most ambitious high-performance sporting organisations, focused on building a world-class ecosystem for talent development, competition and global sporting excellence. Founded in 2019, MFRL has emerged as a pioneering force in Indian motorsport with a vision to create structured pathways for young Indian athletes to compete at the highest level. MFRL is the current Formula Regional Middle East Trophy Teams’ and Drivers’ champion and the UAE4 Series Drivers’ Champion.
Mumbai Falcons has earned recognition as the first Indian team to win an FIA-accredited single-seater Championship, securing both the Drivers’ and Teams’ titles at the 2022 Formula Regional Asian Championship. The team has also competed in leading international Championship s including the Formula Regional Middle East Championship and F4 Middle East Championship, while supporting grassroots motorsport in India and its involvement in sim racing talent pathways.
Beyond motorsport, MFRL is expanding into a broader high-performance sports ecosystem, including cricket through its ownership of SoBo Mumbai Falcons in the T20 Mumbai League. Across every sporting venture, Mumbai Falcons combines data, discipline, innovation and athlete-first development to help shape India’s next generation of champions.
FOR MEDIA QUERIES AND COMMUNICATIONS:
Arun Thankappan: +91 99308 60706