Tuesday, 22 March 2005

New Delhi: Motor sports in India is on a high and riding at top speed. With Narain Karthikeyan, the first of the JK Tyre prodigies having made it to the highest echelon the sport has to offer - Formula 1, the doors have opened wide for the next generation of motor sport talents in India to showcase their potential. At a press conference held in Delhi, JK Tyre launched Karun Chandhok dubbed as ‘India’s fastest rising star’ for the World Series 2005, while Armaan Ebrahim will be the youngest ever contender in the Formula BMW Asia 2005 and Parth Ghorpade multiple karting winner and Cadet class champion in the JK Tyre National Karting Championship will represent the country in the Asian Zone Karting Championship.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Raghupati Singhania, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, JK Tyre, said, “Harnessing racing talents for over a decade now, I am proud to announce that we at JK Tyre have succeeded in putting a complete racing program into place, where by racing talent in India may be recognized and duly rewarded. Narain’s road to Formula 1 has been a tough one. With no Indian ever having made it to this level of competition it was a matter of trials and just being at the right place at the right time. What we have learnt through Narain’s experiences is invaluable to the sport and for future budding talents. Launching the next generation into the international arena we wish our ambassadors and future stars, all the best for the coming season, where they may rise to the occasion and do our nation proud.”

The ‘Fastest Indian in the World’, an ‘exceptional talent’ known for his ‘fantastic speed’, ‘extreme car control’ and ‘unbeatable style’ - Narain Karthikeyan, has been an inspiration to the generation next of motor sports in India. Having successfully finished the first two legs of the Formula 1 season 2005 Narain arrived in the city to meet his long-standing sponsor JK Tyre and to inspire the three prodigies being launched into the various levels of International motor sports with his presence. Following in the footsteps of colleague and former teammate in the Superfund World Series India’s next Formula 1 hopeful, 21-year-old, Karun Chandhok has signed up with RC Motor sport to contest the 2005 ‘World Series’. At the end of last year, Karun joined Narain at RC Motor sport to contest the last 4 rounds of the ‘World Series’, and despite very limited practice time, he finished in an impressive 4th place at the final round of the series in Jerez, having qualified in the top 5. This was enough to prompt offers from several of the top teams in the ‘World Series’ but in the end, the Madras born driver chose to stick with the Italian squad for the season. The car has undergone several changes for this year: powered by a new 450 bhp, 3500 cc engine it will be using an F1 style gearbox, with the gear paddles on the steering wheel for the first time.

From left, Piers Hunisett, Motor sport Manager of Narain Karthikeyan, Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, Member of Parliament, Narain Karthikeyan, the first Indian in Formula 1 racing, Mr. Raghupati Singhania, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, JK Industries Ltd., Karun Chandhok, Indian contender in the Renault World Series 2005, Armaan Ebrahim, the youngest competitor in the Formula BMW Asia 2005 and Parth Ghorpade, Indian participant in the Asian Karting Championship in the cadet category.

Started karting when he was four and half years old, this young genius in motor sports has made miracles. At the age of fifteen he has accelerated to glory and overtakes records whenever he sits in the driver’s seat. The first Indian to represent his country in the World Junior Rotax Finals Armaan Ebrahim also happens to be the youngest JK Tyre National Racing Champion in the Formula LGB 1300cc category.

Armaan Ebrahim has not only made it to the Asian Formula BMW Championship 2005 but also won the Formula BMW driver scholarship award to the tune of 50,000 US $ for the championship. Armaan will now don the prestigious BMW colors. Driving for team E Rain from Korea under the supervision of Patrick Roberts from UK in the 2005 Asian Formula BMW Championship, Armaan at the age of fifteen will be the youngest driver in the FIA approved championship. He has also signed a technical contract with Peter Windsor, ex Williams Formula 1 promotions manager and Rob Wilson, Bar Honda F1 driver coach for technical management in racing for 2005.

The JK Tyre National Karting Championships have been the breeding ground of several motor sport enthusiasts of the country. This has given birth to a new generation of talents in India such as 10-year-old - Parth Ghorpade. To win the title and retain it the following year in a sport that is competitive from the word “Go”, Parth has proved his mettle by winning the JK Tyre National Karting Championships in the Cadet class in 2002 and 2003. Based upon his performance in 2004, Akbar Ebrahim and Wai Leong have taken him under their charge for the 2005 season for racing in India and Asia. Enlightened by their technical expertise and record of driver management Parth stands on a strong pedestal as a challenger for the Cadet title in the Asian Zone series. With Parth racing in the Asian Zone Cadet Karting all eyes will be focused on him to motivate and inspire him to bring the title to India.

The three JK Tyre Prodigies. From Left Karun Chandhok, Armaan Ebrahim and Parth Ghorpade

World Series Calendar: Karun Chandhok

Formula BMW Asia Calendar: Armaan Ebrahim

Asian Zone Karting Calendar: Parth Ghorpade