Karthikeyan hoping to take A1 route back to F1

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Fri, May 16 07:08 PM

By Sanjay Rajan

MUMBAI, India (Reuters) - Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan said on Friday that he will stay with the A1 Grand Prix series next year but had not given up on a Formula One comeback.

"I'll continue doing A1, but I want to have another crack at Formula One, which is the pinnacle of motor sport," he told Reuters.

Karthikeyan, who in 2005 became India's first Formula One driver, won two races in the self-styled World Cup of Motorsport last season.

He hoped his performances and increasing corporate interest in motor racing in his country could pave the way back to Formula One.

"If you do well in this level, somebody is bound to notice," said the 31-year-old. "I have the backing from the right companies in India. And unlike other countries, there are not many drivers from India trying to get into Formula One.

"At least for the next three to four years I am in a very strong position."

India, world cricket's commercial hub and the fastest growing economy after China, is a big draw for other sports hoping to tap into its booming economy.

Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya bought into the Spyker team last year and renamed it Force India while the country is due to stage its first F1 grand prix in 2010. A1 organisers are looking to stage two races there next year.

Karthikeyan, who raced for the Jordan team in 2005 and was a tester for Williams for two seasons, said he was in the right place at the right time with Ferrari designing A1's cars and engines next season.

"With Ferrari coming into A1, it gives it (championship) that much more credibility," he said. "It'll practically be a Formula One car.

"With carbon brakes, better tyres, more downforce, it is going to help me do better than what I did this season.

"There are some talented drivers who possibly are struggling to get into Formula One as there are only a limited number of seats," the Chennai-born driver added.

"It makes it competitive, and to beat developed nations and put India on the top side of the podium is satisfying.

"In A1 you go to every race and you have a chance to win. In Formula One, unless you are in the top three teams, it's very, very difficult."

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