Narain Karthikeyan anticipates a demanding 2011 Formula One season
The Formula One caravan is set to begin its 61st season this March with the season opener Bahrain Grand Prix. Along with some of the other teams, HRT has also changed its drivers’ line-up for the upcoming season. The Indian driver, Narain Karthikeyan
will be seen behind the wheel of the 2011 HRT car after staying away from the sport for a period of five years. The driver talked to the media in an extensive interview, this Tuesday, voicing his fears and aspirations for the next season.
After his endeavour with Jordan in 2005, the Indian was never seen on the track again. Although his debut season was not a very exciting one, yet he got several chances to return to the grid but none was availed by him. Now as he prepares to come back, he
explained that he has carefully scanned all the offers in the past years but was not convinced by any up till now. Now, with the first Indian Grand Prix around the corner, he believes that the timing of his comeback is just perfect.
His new team, HRT did not have a trouble-free season last year. The Hispania squad faced several issues ranging from management chaos to instable financial backings. All through the year, the team was constantly changing its drivers’ line-up, and saw no
less than four drivers in its cockpit last year. When Narain was asked if he is confident to have his seat preserved all through 2011, he replied, “I cannot comment on HRT's contracts with its other drivers. I am confident that I will be driving in F1 for
the 2011 racing season.”
The past few years have seen Formula One evolve dramatically. The absence from the track even for a single year could become very critical for a driver’s performance owing to the ever changing nature of the sport. A very disappointing comeback was seen last
year by (statistically) world’s best racer, Michael Schumacher. Keeping the fact in mind, many believe that the year is going to be a very tough one for the Indian racer, who stayed away from the Formula One grids for five consecutive years. Nonetheless, Karthikeyan
admits that things might not go perfect right from the very first race but he is adamant to improve in very little time. He emphasized that things are different for him as he has only been away from Formula One, but never actually quit racing. He explained
saying, “I did some of the F1 testing for Williams in 2006 & 2007. Besides, I have driven in plenty of single-seater races since then - over 30 race weekends in fact - and winning some of them, between A1GP and Superleague Formula.”
He further assured that he had been very particular about his health all this time, and until the beginning of the season he would be regularly exercising to meet the level of fitness required for the series. Formula One is one of the most physically tiring
sports. For a F1 driver extra physical strength is required, especially the neck and back region need to be very strong. The driver insisted that he intends to work really hard on these areas in the next two months.
Although Karthikeyan believes that the return to the sport is a great treat in itself, he sees the upcoming Indian GP as a cherry on the cake. He is looking forward to the event proclaiming, “Some drivers have said that a home crowd cheering for you can
be worth one second a lap. I hope that they're correct!”
Finally, while talking about the next year’s HRT car, the 33-year-old stated that neither he nor his team is under any illusions for the next season. He declared that no miracles are to be expected in 2011 season. Karthikeyan reckons that it is just the
beginning of a long journey that HRT has yet to cover.
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