Racing is now a sensation in India, thanks to Karun Chandhok. In conversation with Sudeshna Guha Roy of Zeenews.com during a Tag Heuer press conference in the capital recently, Karun said that given the kind of performance portrayed by Indian racers all over the world, the nation is ready to host a successful 2011 Formula One race. “We have two drivers who have driven Formula One cars. We have a team in Formula One. We have two racers who have raced in A1GP and GP2 which is highest in the world. I think we have done significantly better than most other countries on the planet. So I guess, we are ready to host the formula one races,” said Karun Chandhok.
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Karun Chandhok says a lack of corporate dollars is keeping him from making the final step into formula one.
Despite his countryman Vijay Mallya running the Force India operation, the Indian billionaire for a second consecutive season will field a German and Italian driver combination, even though Chandhok, 25, and Narain Karthikeyan, throng the international racing scene. “Finance is one thing,” said Chandhok, who has previously tested for Red Bull Racing.
“For a formula one drive, you are looking at 10-15 million dollars. That’s a significant amount of money when you convert it into rupees,” he said in Delhi during a sponsor press conference. Chandhok also believes the departure from the scene of the Honda-powered Honda and Super Aguri teams has complicated the task for F1 hopefuls.
“Like I said it is four less seats, which has made it more difficult,” Karun confirmed.
“I’ve known Tiago for a few years now since we briefly raced together in World Series and of course he was Narain’s team-mate at Jordan. I really believe that having an ex-F1 driver running a team is a big plus as he understands what is needed from our perspective,” Karun Chandhok said in a release.
Ocean Racing Technology has secured a top driver contract for the GP2 Main Series with Indian driver, Karun Chandhok joining forces with the Portuguese team, making him the first driver confirmed for the outfit directed by Tiago Monteiro.
At 24, Karun has two complete seasons in the series under his belt as well as two victories and therefore brings great experience with him that will be decisive for the all new team in the GP2 Main Series.
“It is very important for Ocean Racing Technology to guarantee the presence of a talented driver such as Karun Chandhok. He is fast, hard worker and already has some great results on different kinds of tracks”.
Bernie Ecclestone has rejected team owner Vijay Mallya’s claim that an Indian driver is not yet ready for formula one.
Indian billionaire Mallya, who owns and runs Force India, wants a countryman at the wheel of his car but for the moment has ruled out both Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok.
He said that Karthikeyan, who raced with the Silverstone based team (then Jordan) in 2005, “doesn’t fit” his criteria, while Chandhok did not sufficiently impress this year in GP2.
But F1 chief executive Ecclestone, who plans to add India to the grand prix calendar in 2011, disagrees.
“The time is getting closer for F1 to be in India, which is something I am really enthusiastic about, and hopefully Karun will be part of it,” the 78-year-old told the local Hindustan Times.
“His place is in F1,” Ecclestone added.
Karthikeyan, who as recently as last year was a test driver with Williams, was not mentioned by the British billionaire.
Karun Chandhok returned to the track for the first time since the final round of the GP2 series in Monza to test with GP2 teams Fisichella Motorsport ( FMS ) as well as his team from the 2008 season, I-sport International.
The Indian who is now based in the UK tested with FMS in Jerez in the south of Spain and was one of the surprises of the day finishing with the 5th best time of the afternoon test. The FMS team is owned by F1 star Giancarlo Fisichella and is backed by the Force India Formula 1 team. The Italian squad haven’t had a strong season in 2008 and were surprised with the test results as well as being very pleased with the progress made.
Speaking after the test, Karun said “I got to know Giancarlo and his manager Enrico Zanarini this year since he has been driving for Force India and they asked if there was a chance to do a test together in their GP2 team. I was of course happy to do the test and I am glad that I was able to help them make some progress with the car after what was a difficult year for them. To be ahead of the cars from established top teams like Campos, Racing Engineering and I-Sport for the day was a great encouragement to the guys at FMS and I’m glad that I got to prove I am a front-runner irrespective of the team. They were a very friendly and great bunch of guys to work with.”
Later, Karun had the chance to get back into his old car at I-Sport for a test at the Paul Ricard circuit in France. “As is the case every winter, all the teams and drivers are testing different drivers and I-Sport wanted me to do a day to test alongside their other 2009 prospects so we can evaluate things on the same day. Of course the team and I know each other quite well but the test was a good chance to take stock of things after the season has finished. Unfortunately the weather was really bad and the persistent rain meant that the test wasn’t very conclusive.”
Looking ahead to 2009, Karun said “Obviously I’m looking at various options for teams for 2009 in GP2 and these winter tests have given me some idea of what the best choices are. Together with my sponsors, we’ve got a shortlist of teams that we think would give me the best chance to fight at the front of the GP2 series in 2009 and now it’s a question of negotiating with the teams to find the best solution.”
The BRDC is the world most elite and prestigious club with the members including the only a select few International drivers from outside of Britain.
The Club Secretary of the BRDC Stuart Pringle said “The BRDC is a Club for the very best racing drivers from Great Britain and the Commonwealth. Karun Chandhok is the first Indian driver to meet the exacting entry requirements of success in international motor sport, but I am quite sure he just the first of many of his countrymen and women.
Indeed, Karun doesn’t just meet the entry criteria for the Club, he surpasses them by someway and we are delighted to welcome him as a member of the Club. ”
Speaking on the occasion, Chandhok was delighted to receive such an exclusive privilege “To be a member of the BRDC is our racing equivalent of becoming a member of the MCC at Lords in Cricket or The All England Lawn Tennis club at Wimbledon. I feel very proud to be the first person from my country to join the BRDC. Racing in the UK has been a huge part of my life and my career and it’s a great feeling to be recognized by the people over here. The BRDC is based at Silverstone which is pretty much my home circuit until we get the Indian Grand Prix in 2011. I used to work here at the racing school during my F3 days and got to know more about the BRDC and appreciate how important and exclusive membership to the club is. ”
Karun Chandhok’s sophomore GP2 Series campaign this year ultimately turned out to be something of a rollercoaster ride for the likeable Indian, with victory at Hockenheim and hugely popular podium finishes both in Monaco and on ‘home’ turf at Silverstone interspersed by some appalling ill-fortune.
With his focus set firmly on becoming his country’s second representative in Formula 1 by following in the wheeltracks of compatriot Narain Karthikeyan, the 24-year-old looks back over his second season in the top flight’s feeder formula, and ahead to what 2009 may hold in-store for him…
In qualifying for the first round of the ‘summer series’ in Barcelona, it was a shame Romain Grosjean blew his engine and dumped some oil at the first corner in the final three minutes. I lost two tenths of a second on my best lap, which cost me a top three slot on the grid and left me seventh.
Monza, Italy, September 15th 2008: Following his impressive second season in the GP2 Series, Formula 1’s official feeder formula, India’s Karun Chandhok picked up the award for the “best driving style” at a glittering ceremony at the Sporting Club Monza in Italy on Sunday evening.
The 24-year-old from Chennai, who is backed by Red Bull, Punj Lloyd, JK Tyre, Amaron, ICSA Logistics and Sidvin, ended the 20-race season in the top 10 in points. His year was highlighted by victory at Hockenheim in Germany, as well as podiums at classic grand prix venues Monaco and Silverstone for his iSport International team.
“Overall, it’s been a positive season. I am very pleased with the progress I have made this year” said Chandhok. “Winning my second GP2 race was a big highlight, and having been a regular front runner this year has put me in a good position in the que of drivers trying to break into Formula 1.
Karun Chandok has suggested that he is in contention for the Force India F1 seat for 2009.
Although this news might now be new, what interests me is the fact that Adrian Sutil is on a one year contract extension. Mallya, the newbie, managing to keep the driver in his garage, while big name teams wanted him, is an achievement. And as far as 2009 goes, I think its too early.
For all we know Red Bull might offer Karun a role and that will be a tough decision for him to make.