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Inching closer to F1
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Narain Karthikeyan is on a high after winning the first race at the Nissan World Series at Magny Cours in France
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"It was my most high-profile international race victory. I have had quite a few unlucky races, but this one was really special. I topped the time sheets during the testing and practice sessions and even converted that form into a dominant pole position from where I could force myself to a convincing victory," he added.
Narain, driving for the RC Motorsport team, gave no room for his opponents from the start till the finish. "I remained focussed right through and I never really let my mind wander," he said.
He added that it was not an easy task winning in the series. "The quality of the contest is pretty high. It's an important victory because, after F1 this is the series where one needs to be seen winning."
The win for the Coimbatorean came in one of the toughest circuits in the world. The circuit, which is a combination of slow corners and tight hairpins, also happens to be the official F1 venue at France. "It is an unusual track in which the drivers are tested to the limit."
About the series, he said it has produced many a F1 driver since 2002. "It is considered the stepping-stone for F1 and also unofficially referred to as the F2 in the World Formula Racing category."
The Nissan World Series has nine rounds of two races each and is being held at different venues. Narain had a mixed bag of results in the first round in Jarama, Spain. He made a charging start and was engaged in a series of aggressive overtaking moves. The track was wet and cold and it was also snowing. The car was good but Narain found the situation too `cold' to handle.
In the next round in Zolder, Belgium, Narain notched 18 valuable points for his scintillating podium finish. In the dusty track at Zolder, Narain came third in the first race and fourth in the second. With 15 points for his podium finish in France, Narain boosted his overall ranking to the fourth position in the World Series.
He also sounded pretty confident of winning the next two races in Valencia. "I am currently undergoing a special fitness programme because a lot of stamina is required for performing well in the rest of the series. I had earlier won a race in Valencia, but as luck did not favour me I was disqualified."
Narain's dream has always been to figure in the F1 World Championship races, locking horns with the likes of Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya and David Coulthard. "I am in line to complete a good year and my next step would be F1 and I am confident of making it to the top."
R.R
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