Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan unveiled MRF’s Formula 2000 racing car at the Express Avenue Mall here on Friday, before driving it around the mall.
The car is designed by Dallara of Italy, powered by Renault of France and built by Jayem Automotives (Coimbatore). The Formula 2000 racing car has a six-speed sequential gear box with a top speed of 240 kmph.
Speaking at a packed press conference, Narain praised the continuing high standards of MRF. “MRF has been at the forefront of promoting racing in single-seaters. The Formula 3 type car is on par with those in Europe,” he said.
On racing around the mall, Narain termed it a “unique experience.”
MRF Ltd. Managing Director Arun Mammen said 20 Formula 2000 cars would be used for the MRF International Challenge scheduled to be held on October 27 and 28 as a support race for the Formula One Grand Prix in New Delhi.
The race, Mammen explained, would consist of four rounds and 10 races. While the second race (December 1 and 2) would be a support race for the FIA GTI Championship event, the final two rounds would be held in Chennai from February 1 to 3 and February 8 to 10.
“Both Indian and international drivers will participate in the Challenge, which will be Asia’s premier one-make racing series,” he said.
“For MRF, this is both — test and testimony — of our expertise, our technology and our commitment,” he said, adding that MRF was in the process of finalising the list of drivers for the Challenge.
Jayem Automotives MD J. Anand said it had built the car the way MRF wanted — world class and showcasing its tyre technology. “The car has conformed to the 2012 FIA crash-test specifications for Formula 3 cars,” he said.
MRF Ltd. Chairman K.M. Mammen and MRF Executive Vice-President (Marketing) Koshy Varghese were also present.
