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Amaron
Pro Racing to establish India’s first racing academy with Narain
Karthikeyan |
•
Aims to identify, nurture and promote young talent
• To promote motor racing in the country
Chennai, June 26: Gravity-defying speed, frenzied cheering, the rush of adrenalin, racing cars setting the tracks literally on fire, boisterous crowd rooting for their favorite team, and then the wave of the quintessential black & white checkered flag!!! That is the magic of Formula-1 racing!
For long, we Indians had to be content with the Schumachers and Alonsos of the world. Until Narain Karthikeyen came along! Our own racing hero! Hopes soared and prayers multiplied! So did the number of F-1 aspirants – with stars in their eyes and song on their lips!
To
identify, nurture and groom more Indian racing champs, leading battery maker
Amara Raja Batteries, in association with ace racer Narain Karthikeyan, today
announced the establishment of the Amaron-NK Racing Academy – the first
of its kind in the country.
A part of the Amaron Pro Racing initiative, this virtual Academy will leverage existing racing infrastructure in the country. As one of the first few initiatives of the Amaron-NK Racing Academy, Racing Workshops will be conducted at the Kari Motor Speedway, in Coimbatore. The Academy will also identify four promising drivers through a rigorous selection process and run two teams-- Amaron® and Speed® (BPCL) – for the formula ROLON® championship.
Announcing this at a media meet here, Mr. Jayadev Galla, Managing Director, ARBL, said: “We have been associated with Narain Karthikeyan since his early racing days and he has made us very proud. We are strengthening our association with NK by extending our contract. The Amaron-NK Racing Academy is the next step of this association and our long-term commitment to the promotion of motor-sport and motor-racing in the country, from the junior school level.”
Amaron-NK Racing Academy will be an independent institution and the scope of the racing academy includes:
1. Regular racing workshops and
training programs to aspiring and promising drivers. The “Amaron-NK
Racing Workshops” will be the first step in this direction.
2. Identify promising drivers with a transparent selection process and give
them opportunity to race in professional championships. The ACE program will
be a step in this direction.
3. Manage and run teams in racing championships.
4. Champion the cause of “motor-sport and motor-racing” with the
policy makers as the voice of the racing community.
5. Promote events which identify talent and encourage participation of youngsters
in motor-sport.
Mr. Galla said the objective of the academy is to encourage, identify, train and promote racers in the country and popularize motor-racing as a sport. The academy will provide input at every stage of a racer’s career.
“Narain has triggered motor-racing craze in the country. More youngsters are today inspired to follow his foot-steps. In association with Narain, we have launched the Racing Academy. Our endeavor is to encourage, identify and nurture more champs like Narain Karthikeyan,” Mr. Galla said.
Mr. Narain Karthikeyan said: “I have been associated with Amaron® for many years and ARBL has been one of my early and steadfast supporters. I am delighted to continue as Brand Ambassador for Amaron®.”
Commenting on the Racing Academy, “India has immense talent in sports. However, it is important to nurture and support the sportspersons if we need to see them bring glory to the country. ARBL and I share the common cause of nurturing talent and promoting motor-racing. Now, by starting an academy for motor-racing, we are committing resources and time to the cause,” Narain added