The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Narain wins dramatic season finale

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Sport - Racing : Motor

Narain wins dramatic season finale

Sports Reporter

— Photo: AFP

RELAXED: Narain Karthikeyan is a picture of confidence before the start of the race at Brands Hatch on Sunday.

Coimbatore: India’s Narain Karthikeyan sealed off A1GP’s season finale with a commanding victory at the Brands Hatch Circuit in Great Britain on Sunday.

It was a familiar territory for Narain, and the 31-year-old from Coimbatore performed to the situation with perfection.

Pole sitter Narain made a cracker of a start as the red lights went on. But after a few minor incidents the race had to be restarted. He maintained the early grip but let slip the advantage with a slow first pit stop.

Robbie Kerr of Great Britain seized the opportunity and was out of the pit ahead of Narain. And the home crowd went wild.

Hot contest

Germany’s Michael Ammermüller joined the battle between Narain and Adam Carroll of Ireland and was hot on their heels.

Unfortunately, Carroll damaged its front wing after he hit Narain’s rear wheel.

Slowly, Adam started to drop back and Narain was able to breathe better. Midway through, Great Britain, India and Germany were separated by just 2.7 seconds. It was time for the second pit stop.

This time around Robbie came out slowly. And, Narain cashed in on the opportunity to take the lead.

And with Germany out by lap 40, it was Narain all the way.

Soon after the finish, Narain did the end of the season donuts mch to the delight of the Indian crowd gathered there

It is Narain second win of the season.

Thanks to it, India wrested the tenth position in the championship table.

The results:

Feature Race: 1. Narain Karthikeyan (India) 1:07’24.691, 2. Robbie Kerr (GB) 1:07’25.769, 3. Neel Jani (Swi) 1:07’33.416.

Sprint Race:

1. Robbie Kerr (GB) 19’19.143, 2. Jonathan Summerton (USA) 19’20.269, 3. Adam Carroll (Irl) 19’21.329, 4. Neel Jani (Swi) 19’23.268, Narain Karthikeyan (India) 19’23.610.

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