Formula One racing and the one name that readily comes to one’s mind is Narain Karthikeyan. But another name has been added this season and it is none other than Chennai-born Karun Chandhok, who made his F1 debut with the Hispania Racing F1 Team. He has participated in all the four races held this season and finished at17th position at Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit. He now aims to do much better at Barcelona in May.
Chandhok expressed happiness over completing the Chinese GP. Recounting the race, he said that he was struggling for grip on the front tyres and was getting stuck behind the safety car. “Despite this, our race pace was definitely encouraging and I am very happy to finish my third race in a row, which is yet another great result to show for all the hard work that the team has been putting in,” Chandhok said.
Partnering with Bruno Senna, nephew of Ayrton Senna, Chandhok has completed two races in rain. Chandhok has received valuable support from Bollywood Badshah Shahrukh Khan who landed at Malaysia to boost his spirits. At the Chinese GP, it was leading Indian golfer Shiv Kapur. “It is a great feeling to be here. It is encouraging that a fellow Indian has made it to the highest level of F1 motorsport, at such a young age. He is definitely an inspiration to all Indians, including me,” Kapur said.
Twenty-six-year-old Chandhok rose to popularity in 2000 and won the Indian National Racing Championship seven times in the Formula Maruti series. He made history as the youngest –ever Asian Formula Champion, when he won the Formula 2000 Asia Champion driving for Team India Racing.
Luck was not on his side, when he took on the role with British Formula 3 champion team Carlin Motorsport in 2001. In 2002, he moved across to the National Class, driving for T-Sport and ended up sixth in the first season and third in the second season. In 2006, Chandok won the first-ever Formula Asia V6 by Renault Championship. His three-year stint at GP2 series was not remarkable as he ended claiming 15th, 10th and 18th in the Drivers’ standings. Before signing up with the Hispania Racing F1 Team, the Chennai-born racer was linked to Force India team, which fell through despite having family connections with team owner Vijay Mallya.
As soon as FIA decided to extend the 2010 grid to include 26 cars, Campos immediately forwarded their application. Powered by Cosworth engines and Dallara chassis, the Hispania Racing F1 Team made its debut in Sakhir, Bahrain GP without a single test lap. On recruiting Chandhok for the Hispania Racing F1 Team, principal Colin Kolles said that he was impressed with his GP2 performance. With New Delhi set to make it to the racing track, it would be great to have an Indian driver on the grid, Kolles said.
On his interest in racing, Chandhok said that he was drawn to the sport as a kid as his grand father Indu Chandok founded the Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India and raced during the 1950s, while his father Vicky Chandhok began in 1972. Alain Prost was his all-time hero, but in present times it was Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel.
The young driver speaking on King Khan’s visit to Malaysia said that he and SRK had done events together, especially for Tag Heuer. “I didn’t expect to see him in Malaysia but it was nice to have him in our garage for a couple of hours. I have told him that it would be our privilege to host him at other races as well,” Chandhok said.
He said that his other interests were cycling, cricket and tennis. “Lance Armstrong, Sachin Tendulkar and Roger Federer are my heroes as they have been performing consistently,” Chandhok said.
Thanking his parents for all the support rendered to him, Chandhok said that without them, he would not be where he was.