The Hindu : Sport : Karthikeyan hopes for F-1 comeback

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Friday, Dec 21, 2007
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Karthikeyan hopes for F-1 comeback

Principal Correspondent

— Photo: V.V. Krishnan

WELL DONE! Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni greets Narain Karthikeyan, who won his first A1 GP race in Zhuhai recently.

NEW DELHI: Narain Karthikeyan is dreaming again of taking part in the Formula 1 championship after winning his first A1 GP race in Zhuhai, China.

“I think this is the dream time for Indian motor sport and it required right moves by the right people to put everything together,” said Karthikeyan, during his felicitation here on Thursday.

The win in Zhuhai served as a consolation for the Indian racing champion after his F-1 team Williams sacked him from his test driver position.

“The victory has come at a very important time for me. This will help me plan for the future,” said Karthikeyan, expressing his desire to race in the F-1 again. “There is still time for me and I hope it will happen sooner rather than later.”

First F-1 driver

The 30-year-old Karthikeyan became India’s first F-1 driver in 2005 when he signed for the now-defunct Jordan. His tenure with struggling Jordan was ordinary, except for the fourth finish in the U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis. There were, however, only six drivers at the starting grid after controversy over the use of tyres had rest of the teams using Michelin tyres pull out.

Following Jordan, he endured two frustrating years as test driver for Williams, but now he wants to get back into F-1.

“First I want to finish in the top six in A1 GP in 2008 before looking out for F-1 options. It is early in the season at A1 GP and we have already secured points and now with this win, I look forward to bringing A1 Team India more victories,” Karthikeyan said.

When pointed out that Force India, the renamed Spyker team that Indian businessman Vijay Mallya jointly owns with a Dutch family, did not seek him out for a test drive, Karthikeyan said: “World doesn’t end with Force India. There will be more opportunities in the future.”

Karthikeyan, however, said that it was good that an F-1 team had an Indian owner and hoped that India would be soon hosting the first Grand Prix.

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