Thursday 6 January 2011

Who is Narain Karthikeyan?

He's just announced that he is driving for Hispania Racing in 2011 but just who is Narain Karthikeyan...

He turns 34 next week and is back in a race seat 6 years after his one and only season with Jordan. It was a largely frustrating year in an uncompetitive car, the Indian only scoring at the USA grand prix where only 6 cars took the start. Indeed he was outspoken about the quality of the car and ended up having a war of words with Colin Kolles who will now manage him at Hispania. The season would end with a heavy crash in Shanghai.



A test driver role with Williams followed but Karthikeyan's turned to A1GP after that. The emergence of Force India offered hope but he was unable to secure a drive with Vijay Mallya's team. He was scheduled to drive for a Colin Kolles entered team in the Le Mans 24 hour race in 2009 but a shoulder injury ruled him out at short notice. Late last year he had a day in the Force India simulator. It was reported that he was a second slower than the times set by fellow countryman Karun Chandhok. It appears that Force India were trying to get a Indian driver involved in the team, especially with the Grand Prix happening in New Delhi this October. However it appears Karthikeyan did not have the pace to earn a seat.

What he does seem to have is massive backing from the Tata group. They may also be a help to Hispania technically as well as financially with some of the resources that they have. Indeed they have a computer company which can run computer fluid dynamic programmes but they have an exclusive contract with Force India. However money ruled the decision making process at Hispania in 2010 and appears to me again this season. This issue could become even greater after the owner of the team José Ramón Carabante was ordered to pay 35m Euros by a Spanish court yesterday.

Karthikeyan gets another chance to show what he can do in a F1 car and if he can survive to October will race in the inaugural Indian Grand Prix. With doubts over his ability and the development of Hispania's 2011 car shrouded in mystery you do have to wonder if his weekends will consist of being lapped or even battling the 107% rule on Saturday afternoon's.

10 comments:

  1. He's the last person I expected to drive for Hispania, just seen it. Hispania is becoming like a soap opera as you just don't know what's going to happen to you. What's been the most unexpected f1 signing you've had about? Course Schumacher last year was a bit unexpected

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  2. Just what the Indian Grand Prix needed isn't it. What next an American driver in 2012?

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  3. Will Hispania manage to get to race at all with the 107% rule i doubt it.

    Connor,
    Was it embrassing watching hispania last year?

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  4. @Matt Hmmm most unexpected, well Schumacher was i suppose. I remember being very surprised when Ferrari took on Massa.

    @F1extra Not much Americian talent about atm but of Austin is a success it will help. North America a massive market for the car manufacturers

    @Anon Well they are making positive noises about a car. The 107% mark will be pretty big so you'll have to be very slow to miss it though i can see Kartikeyan not being at full pace against other drivers. Was it embarassing? A bit but you know they did beat Virgin in the championship and did what they could with a limited car

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  5. Narain could be very slow but then again Hispania had a limited budget, it's hope they do OK this season. Force India should be Di Resta/ Hulkenburg as Sutil has underpreformed in the four seasons he has been at F1, and Liuzzi has so many chances.

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  6. Do you think Hispania will be on the grid for 2011?

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  7. I think they will be, they're currently working on the car and getting the Williams rear end adapted to it in England and i feel they will make it to Bahrain

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  8. It is true that Bulgaria are trying to host a Grand Prix in the future?

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  9. There was some talk about Bulgaria and also some rumours of financial dealings being investigated. Honestly not sur, will be tough though. There is a lot of competition for GP's at the minute

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  10. the mayor of melbourne said melbourne should give up hosting a grand prix a article you can see on autosport because Bernie wants a night race. They said a few years that they couldn't do this because they would have to light up the whole park. Bernie might be looking to go Sydney or Perth. Just an idea as there is not much to talk about you could do a blog about the countries who want a grand prix or are rumoured to and the likihood of this happening. Could you do that please, Connor liking the blog mate

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