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The driving force

Photo: S. S. Kumar

Speed king Narain Karthikeyan

Not often does a driver turn up in an A1 Grand Prix and make people sit up and take note. India’s ace F1 driver Kumar Ram Narain Karthikeyan has done just that. Whether he impresses from the front, middle or the rear of the grid depends on how quick the swanky looking Ferrari-powered cars behave when the new season flags off at Zandvoort in the Netherlands on October 4.

It is going to be a totally new experience for the Coimbatore-based driver. None of them has had the opportunity to go round and learn about the car at leisure and get into its skin. But, the 30-year-old believes his F1 experience will stand him in good stead.

Narain has not come cold to this amazing world of A1 GP. Before jumping into the A1 bandwagon, he rubbed shoulders with some of the best, including the great Michael Schumacher, in the F1 business. He burst on to the F1 scenario in 2005 when not many thought he would.

He was quick and displayed breathtaking talent despite racing for a team like Jordan. On the sixth of March, being placed 12th on the grid, with rain making the qualifying event a tough one, Narain impressed the world with a fine drive to finish 15th, a great place to be for a rookie. Learning as he went along, he displayed excellent speed. He made mistakes too, but learned from them.

Later, Narain joined Williams, nine-time world champions, as its test driver. He set some flying times, showed good technical understanding and provided strong feedback to the engineers.

Then the bubble burst, but he did not give up. Inch by inch he rebuilt his reputation and made an impression in the A1. He proved to the world that he still had enough talent in him to burn by winning the Feature races in both Zhuhai and at Brands Hatch. His impressive show also saw Team India finish among the top 10, for the first time, last season.

“I hope to better it this time. We want to finish among the top five. It is quite possible,” he says with calm assurance, and hops into his stylish Porsche for a drive around the city.

Going for a drive with Narain is another experience altogether. Not because the car is expensive, but because the man behind the wheel is the fastest Indian in the world.

He winds his way patiently thorough the heavy traffic and then touches 160kmph when the road opens up.

“I have cut down on my speed for quite sometime now. Earlier, I used to go flat out,” he says with a broad smile, that conveys much more than mere words.

Look a little closer, and you will find that he is a cool individual. Also, a wise one.

Narain’s early career is an open book. If he had stuck to his childhood dream he probably would have remained a champion rally driver. He had reasons to be crazy about rallying because his father, G.R. Karthikeyan, was already a driver of national repute then. However, his dad had other plans for him.

He wanted his son to study and take care of his thriving business. His mother felt the same way. But, not Narain.

While his contemporaries had to plead for their first moped, Narain had the real thing -- a four-stroke, and as quick as a moped. But then watching his little son slide dangerously, G.R. built him a go-kart with nice big bumpers all around for a safe drive.

He raced in it for hours on end inside the compound. Seeing his great passion, he was sent to the Elf Winfield Racing School in France.

It was a costly affair but the family wanted to nurture his dream. Narain grabbed the opportunity with both hands and never looked back. No regrets, he says about his decisions. And, he feels he can stay afloat in the F1. Time will tell.

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