Narain Karthikeyan enters the grid with promising plans
The newly signed HRT driver, Narain Karthikeyan vows to "catch up" with Formula One after having spent five years off the track.
The Indian was seen for the first time on the Formula One grid in 2005 as he signed a deal with the Jordan team for one year. However, the abortive debut season did not allow him a seat again in the series until now. The driver has spent five long years
off the Formula One tracks, competing in the NASCAR Truck series, in America.
Now, with the backing of the big sponsor, TATA; the leading car manufacturer of India, Karthikeyan has finally been able to secure a seat with the series. Although, a lot has changed in the sport since the driver last competed, still he is determined to
make his mark on the Formula One tracks.
Addressing his fans, earlier today the driver proclaimed, "Missed loads of races while racing in the US, need to catch up!"
The 34-year-old stated earlier this week that he is really concerned about his upcoming year for a number of reasons. He is well aware of the fact that five years’ absence in the fastest sport of the world means a lot. Moreover, the current situation of
the team also makes him much concerned. HRT is a very new team on the grids and has gone through a disastrous debut season last year.
While talking about his fears and expectations for the upcoming season, Karthikeyan stated that the car used by the team last year was ‘really bad in terms of the engine’. HRT used the Cosworth engine in 2010 and intends to stick to the same for another
season. However, several other major updates in the package are expected to make the car much faster than last season. The new driver expressed his hopes for a better 2011 season saying, "They (HRT) have a lot of promising plans drawn out for the 2011 season
and I'm hoping that it all materialises."
On the other hand, the biggest concern of the team at the moment is Karthikeyan’s physical condition. Colin Kolles, the HRT team boss, who has already worked with the driver in 2005 in team Jordan, admitted that Karthikeyan's "biggest negative point" was
his fitness.
He explained saying, "But his physical fitness during the Le Mans races, which are very long, was very good."
However, amidst all the fears and concerns both, the team as well as the driver, are ready to begin a new season with a hope of seeing all things go very well for them.
Tags: