INDIA in F1

Tag: India

  • Force India exude confidence

    Montreal, 10 June 2012:Within 5 seconds of pole sitter Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull, Narain Karthikeyan, the evergreen hero of India, who is the only Formula One driver this season, accomplished the 107 per cent rule despite a lousy HRT car which gave him enough problems on both Friday and Saturday. The Coimbatore resident, who is into his third F1 season, will have to do with what he has in terms of a car and will be starting last on the 24th

    Force India's Nico Hulkenberg in Canada. Sahara Force India Photo.

    on the grid.

    Narain Karthikeyan HRT, clocked 1:18.330 3.669 the best of his 9 laps in the qualifying on Saturday.

    The other Indian interest is Sahara Force India, who continued to show strong form in Saturday’s qualifying hour as Paul Di Resta qualified in eighth place for tomorrow’s Canadian Grand Prix. Teammate Nico Hulkenberg will start from P13 after yellow flags disrupted his best lap in Q2.The Scot will line up behind Romain Grosjean on row four of the grid in Montreal but said after the top-10 shoot-out that he could have squeezed more from his VJM05 car, though it wouldn’t have altered his position.

    Narain Karthikeyan said: “It was a messy qualifying for me. On the first set of tyres I encountered a lot of traffic and on my quickest lap I got all the sectors right and I made a mistake coming into the last corner which cost me six tenths. My qualifying has been weak this year and I need to improve this. But we have a good pace and tomorrow we will fight with our main rivals to try and get a good result”.

    HRT Technical Director Toni Cuquerella, said: “Today we confirmed the progression which we proved yesterday and that we already demonstrated in Monte Carlo, and I want to thank the whole team for their work. Pedro completed a very good lap and Narain could’ve been there easily. Both we’re comfortably under the 104% and have a good pace with both tyres and we have a good set-up for the race so, although the race will be tough on the brakes, we’re optimistic about our chances. Depending on the temperature we will go for a one-stop or two-stop strategy”.

    Sahara Force India’s senior driver Paul di Resta said:  “I think we can be very happy with eighth today, which puts us in a strong position for the race,” he said. “There was probably a little bit more speed in the car because I was a little bit over-committed in the chicanes on my final lap in Q3, but I don’t think it would have made a big difference to my starting position.

    “In all the sessions so far we’ve shown how competitive the car is, especially during long runs, and I think we can be confident of scoring some good points tomorrow. It will be a long race and we just have to wait and see what happens with the weather and who has the best understanding of the tyres.”

    Team-mate Nico Hulkenberg will start from 13th on the grid and the German blamed yellow flags on his final Q2 quick lap for missing the top-10 cut.

    “I don’t think that P13 reflects the pace we had in the car today,” he said “We looked very strong in Q1 and I felt really happy with the car, especially after the changes we made between FP3 and qualifying. But I had some bad luck in Q2 when I got caught out by a yellow flag on my quickest lap, because a Sauber went off ahead of me in turn eight and I had to abort the lap. If I had managed a clean lap, I think I could probably have made Q3. I still feel positive for tomorrow and the field is very close. We know overtaking is possible here so I think we can expect a challenging and entertaining race.”

    ends

  • Sahara Force India inch closer to 7th place

    File picture of Nico Hulkenberg who helped Forced India double finish at Monaco. Sahara Force India pic.

    Monaco: The only Indian Formula One team Sahara Force India has a pair of two foreign drivers in Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg who powered Force India to a double finish in points getting their team ten valuable points to inch closer to seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship after they finished seventh and eighth respectively at the Monaco Grand Prix, the sixth round of the Formula 1 World Championship which saw a sixth different winner this season..

    With Sauber finishing out of the points, after Sergio Pérez see-sawed up and down the order to eventually finish 11th and Kamui Kobayashi retired due to damage sustained in a first-corner incident in which he hit the stranded Lotus of Romain Grosjean, Sahara Force India are now 13 points behind the Swiss team, on 28 points.

    After the race Di Resta paid tribute to his team’s strategy in helping him climb from 14th on the grid to his seventh-place finish, his fourth points haul of the season. “We went aggressive with the strategy and I have to say the team really optimised it,” he said of the decision to start on new Soft tyres before taking on Supersofts after 35 laps and making them work until the chequered flag. “The secret was managing the tyres and trying to find clean air when we could.

    “The car felt really good, much stronger than yesterday, and that allowed me to push when we needed to,” he added. “Fortunately, the rain held off at the end because that could have had a big impact on the end of the race. It’s great that we managed to get both cars in the points and we can celebrate tonight.”

    Hulkenberg, who had started ahead of Di Resta in 10th, was on a reverse programme, starting on Supersofts and then moving to Softs after 29 laps. The German, however, blamed traffic and the slow Lotus of Kimi Raikkonen for his eighth-place finish. “For the first few laps I was running with Michael [Schumacher] and we were stuck behind Kimi, who was struggling on the Supersofts, but it was difficult to get by,” he said.

    “Unfortunately, Kimi stopped on the same lap as me so I remained behind him and we came out in a lot of traffic, which is when Paul jumped ahead of me. The rest of the race was quite uneventful and I just focused on looking after the tyres. It’s a great result for the team and we should be happy with the result.”

    ends

  • Sailesh Bolisetti, first Indian to win at British GT

    Nurburgring (Nurburg, Germany) : The see-saw of fortunes finally swung in Sailesh Bolisetti’s favour when the Indian sealed his first victory of the season at race two at the second round of the British GT championship held here.

    The weekend had started on a positive note for the Vizag pilot, with his Lotus Sport UK team finishing third and first in the two official practice sessions. But an unfortunate onslaught of technical gremlins prevented Sailesh and his teammate

    Phil Glew from exploiting the performance of their Lotus Evora GT4 during the qualifying sessions.

    The first race turned out to be a disaster of a different kind when a sudden drizzle left the track damp leading to Sailesh spinning out on the warm-up lap while the car was on full slick tyres (not wets). The brush with the barriers left the Evora slightly bruised, but the team was able to stitch it up in time for race start.

    A slow puncture and a broken side view mirror further added to his woes and impeded progress during the race. Phil Glew then took over after the mandatory pit stop and tyre change, but could manage to do no better than fifth.

    Post-race, Sailesh was understandably disappointed given how things had turned out.

    “After showing promising pace in qualifying, it was disheartening to endure all the back luck we did. We definitely deserved better.

    “The pace was there all along and we fancied ourselves to challenge for the podium, but it was ultimately not to be.

    Things didn’t look brighter for race two as it was cloudy in the morning.

    Phil Glew was behind the wheel for the opening stint this time and he proceeded to battle all the way through with the front-running Ginetta’s for the lead, just managing to keep them behind.

    Glew pitted from the lead for the mandatory pit stop just past the 30-minute mark, giving Bolisetti the important task of keeping the victory challenge alive.

    “When Phil handed me the car from lead, the first thought in my mind was to preserve it and try to keep the opposition behind and the car out of the barriers.

    “The margin was slim but we managed to turn the car around in pits quicker than our competitors so I had a little more breathing space.

    Soon after, one of the Ginetta’s retired from the race due to a mechanical issue – giving Sailesh further leeway to hold on to the lead. From then on it was just a matter of maintaining the cushion and driving to the car’s limits.

    Finally, Sailesh crossed the finish line 27 seconds in the lead from the second-placed Ginetta, clinching his maiden victory in the series.

    “The team really deserved this given the tough weekend we had, they were extremely patient and perseverant throughout.

    “To win at a track which we’ve never driven or tested is the cherry on the cake, and it isn’t just any other circuit but a place like Nurburgring which is steeped in motor racing history”, quipped Sailesh on the brink of emotions.

    The first win is always the most memorable but Sailesh’s focus remains firmly on the job ahead.

    “You first win in a new series is always a great feeling, but it surely can’t be our last given the task ahead. We have some exceptionally strong competition so there is no way we can afford to lay back and relax.”

    For the team, it is all systems go for Rockingham, scheduled for June 9th.

    “We’ll get back to UK and back to our schedule. Hopefully we’ll get in some testing before the weekend as it is once again going to be a brand new circuit for me.

    “This is the critical phase of the championship so we need to push all the way. It is party-time tonight but thereafter it is back to business”, concluded the elated youngster.

    “Sailesh did a good job during his stint in the car, we knew it was a comfortable win if Sailesh just kept his head cool and drive without making any mistakes, which he did!”, said Phil Glew.

    Lotus Sport UK Team principal, Gary Ayles said “Sailesh showed a great performance today, but he could have done better provided he gets more practice on the circuits! This win has increased my responsibility of giving him better training
    and keeping this in mind, we are trying to make the necessary arrangements to get him more comfortable in the coming races”.

  • No practice laps in Spain; Narain Karthikeyan disappointed

    Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona

    Friday, 11th of May 2012

    Weather: Sunny – Air 30ºC, Track 45ºC

    A HRT car during the Friday free practice for the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya on Friday. A HRT F1 team photo.

    10.00-11.30 FORMULA 1 PRACTICE SESSION 1

    Pedro de la Rosa    F112-02 #22  23rd (19 laps) 1:29.107

    Dani Clos                  F112-03 #23  24th (19 laps) 1:31.618

    14.00-15.30 FORMULA 1 PRACTICE SESSION 2

    Pedro de la Rosa      F112-02 #22 23rd (26 laps) 1:28.235

    Narain Karthikeyan   F112-03 #23 24th (2 laps)

    The time has finally come and the highly anticipated Spanish Grand Prix finally got underway today with the first free practice sessions at the Circuit de Catalunya (4.655 km). The day started with Dani Clos lining up alongside Pedro de la Rosa, making it a historic moment for the team and Spanish motorsport as a whole. The Spanish duo were able to try out the aerodynamic upgrades and compare data until Clos’ car came to a halt as a result of an electrical issue towards the end of the session.

    The team worked hard at midday to solve the problem and get Narain Karthikeyan out on the track on time for the second session. It wasn’t to be but the team continued to fight against the clock and, in the end, the Indian driver was able to get on the track with half an hour to go in the session. But the car said enough was enough immediately and Karthikeyan wasn’t even able to finish two laps.
    On his behalf, de la Rosa completed a total of 26 laps comparing the two aerodynamic options with the two tyre options.
    Dani Clos: “I’m happy to have got into the car for the first time today, albeit for a short first encounter. The feeling I had when I left the pits and saw the Spanish crowd, whilst driving for a Spanish team alongside Pedro, was unbelievable. It was my first time in the new car and I wasn’t 100% comfortable since the car is built for Narain, so I had to adapt. We were able to carry out some aerodynamic work and try out some different things on the car so I’m pleased to have completed my job for the team”.

    Pedro de la Rosa: “Today was the day to try out the aero package we’ve brought to Barcelona, so we completed various short stints to see how the car behaved with the changes. It was interesting because the car has effectively taken a step forwards, but we need an even bigger step, especially at such a tough circuit as this one where there are many quick turns and where you need to improve the balance of the car. There’s still plenty to do and a lot of data to analyze to have a better understanding of how to get the most out of these upgrades”.

    Narain Karthikeyan: “I’m disappointed to have not got any laps under my belt today; it’s certainly not how I was aiming to start my weekend in Barcelona. Tomorrow will be an uphill struggle as we’ve only got one hour in the morning to get the car ready for qualifying in the afternoon, so we’re really going to have to get our heads down and work hard. Hopefully we can make up for the time lost today and turn things around tomorrow”.
    Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal: “Today was a day of mixed feelings. On one hand it was very nice to see Dani make his debut but on the other hand we suffered a lot of electrical issues on Narain’s car. It’s a new chassis and there’s a lot of work to do with any new car so it’s not that strange for things to not work out first time round. It looks like the upgrades we’ve brought have worked well, which makes us optimistic for the future. Now we have to fix our immediate problems and work so that the weekend turns out the best way possible”.

    ends

  • Narain likes the Catalunya circuit, can HRT support him with a good car

    11th-13th May 2012

    Circuit de Catalunya – 66 laps – 4.655km

    File picture of Karthikeyan at Bahrain GP with an Engineer. HRT F1 team photo.
    Madrid, 4 of May 2012: With the first stage of the season completed in distant lands, it’s time for Formula 1 to head much closer to home with the first European event of the Championship taking place precisely at home for HRT Formula 1 Team in Spain. It goes without saying that the Spanish Grand Prix is a very important date for the team as nothing beats the sensation of racing in front of your home crowd. The team has taken a step at every Grand Prix so far this year and will be even keener to do so in Barcelona to give the fans something to shout about.
    The Circuit de Catalunya is a haven for preseason testing given the nature of the track and mild weather conditions and that is why the teams know the circuit inside out. It’s made up of a mix of slow and fast corners, which added to the bumpy surface, make the race mechanically and physically demanding. Tyre degradation is high, especially on the left side of the car since all high speed corners are right hand turns, and aerodynamics are also decisive in Montmeló.
    Pirelli have elected their soft and hard tyres for this Grand Prix.
    Pedro de la Rosa: “The Spanish Grand Prix is the most important trace for a Spanish driver, but this time it will be even more special for me because I’m racing with a Spanish team in my city of birth. At this circuit aerodynamics are important and it will be an important test for our upgrades. The track is also very tough on the tyres. Not going to Mugello wasn’t an easy decision but it was important to go to the headquarters for the first time and work calmly because it’s the first time my car is in Europe. For the first time the mechanics have had the time to dismantle the car, build it and assemble it. In Barcelona we are going to try and do the best we can, as always, but even more so at this Grand Prix. We’re playing at home in front of the best fans in the world. We’re looking forward to it and it’s something historic for so I’m going to enjoy it as much as possible”.
    Narain Karthikeyan: “Catalunya is a great all-round circuit, highly demanding and aero dependent. It is a track I know well, and it is the first time this season we have the hard and soft tyre allocated, so the gap in lap times will be significant and strategy will play a deciding role. We don’t know the specifics of tyre behaviour since we didn’t test pre-season, but as the compounds are softer this year, the degradation, especially on the soft, will be high because of the high-lateral loading through corners like turn three. The circuit is aero sensitive too, because of the high amount of winds which often change direction so getting the setup right early on will be crucial. There are a few upgrades coming as well which will help us unlock some more performance from the car and give us the ability to compete with our closest rivals. It is the first of our team’s home races so we are motivated to do ou r best.”
    Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal: “We’re really looking forward to taking part in this Grand Prix, which is the first time we’ll be racing at home this season. Showing our cars and our team in Spain is an added motivation and we’re looking to have a good weekend and finish the race without any trouble to continue in our process of improving little by little. After the first four races we’re heading into this one with much more calm. We arrive more organized and better prepared after having rested a bit this week. We’re bringing some updated to Montmeló which we hope will take us one step forwards in terms of performance and reliability. It’s the first Grand Prix we travel to after having moved into our new headquarters, starting a great new chapter in the history of the team”.
    ends

  • Chandhok 8th among 41 cars for JRM in Round 2

    Spa-Francorrchamps (Belgium) 5 May 2012: In qualifying for round two of the FIA World Endurance Championship, driving JRM Racing’s Honda Performance Development ARX-03a, Indian racing star Karun Chandhok set the eighth-fastest time for the 6-hours of Spa – amid an overall grid of 41 cars.

    Chandhok enjoyed his first ever qualifying session in Sportscar racing at Spa and is confident of a better showing in the race. He commented, “The car ran well, even though we were trying different set-ups during the practice sessions and qualifying, which had an effect on our pace. I feel there’s more to come and, with a good clean run tomorrow, I see no reason why we won’t be able to improve on our start position.”

    Having arrived at the ionic Belgium circuit earlier this week, the team prepared the car for it’s first competitive outing since the opening round of the championship at Sebring in March. With three practice sessions – two on Thursday and one today (Friday) – the intention was to build on the car’s proven performance on its first outing and set up the car specifically for Spa’s unique layout.

    Although running well in the first of the 1.5-hour practice sessions, with David Brabham and Chandhok behind the wheel, the car developed a braking issue that caused the rear wheels to lock momentarily. Deciding that fixing the problem would be more important than continued running, the team opted not to complete the second-session.

    But with everything working 100%, Peter Dumbreck took the car out for the third and final practice period this morning, with Chandhok finishing off the driving in readiness for his qualifying stint. Having ran perfectly for the full-hour, all that was left for the team to do was hone the car’s set up and, although eighth fastest in the 20-minute qualifying session was a step in the right direction, the team knows there is still more to come for the race tomorrow.

    Team Manager and Head of Engineering Nigel Stepney commented, “The problems in practice meant we didn’t do all we wanted in terms of set-ups, so to start eighth is very promising. Six hours of running at Spa is a long time and, if we can make a few more improvements, then we should be on target for another good run. Of course, at this track the weather can also play a part, which could certainly shake things up.”

    Team Principal James Rumsey is looking to finish higher than their start position after the team is confident of the changes made to car. He said, “Even with the reduced running time so far, we have been able to gather a great deal of information and data, which is not only good for Spa, but Le Mans too – which is valuable, as it’s the most important race of the year and the next round of the championship. However, we have a six-hour race tomorrow, and a lot can happen in that amount of time and we therefore have every opportunity of getting a good result.”

    Following a half-hour warm-up session tomorrow morning, the six-hour race gets the green light at 14.30 CEST (13.30 GMT). The race can be watched live at: www.fiawec.com

    Karun Chandhok puts JRM in 8th place at Spa for the second round in the World Endurance Championship. The race is on Sunday. Photo JRM team.

     

  • Indian Archers storm into the final of World Cup at Antalya

    Mumbai: Indian men recurve archers today created a major upset today when they beat favorites South Korea to storm into the final of the World Cup at Antalya, Turkey, said a mail from Olympic Gold Quest.

    Rahul Banerjee, Tarundeep Rai (both supported by OGQ) and Jayanta Talukdar were in red hot form for Team India and shot brilliantly to get better of the hugely experienced Korean Team in the semis. Going into the final 6 arrows, India was trailing by 1 point, but all 3 Indian archers held their nerves to clinch the tie by 1 point  and win 225-224.

    L-R: Archers Rahul Banerjee, Tarundeep Rai and Jayanta Talukdar at the CWG 2010 men's team event in New Delhi. Photo: OGQ
    Team India had finished an impressive fifth in the qualifying round on Wednesday. Earlier today, they started their campaign against Mexico in the Round of 16 and beat them by 217-215 points. In the quarterfinals they beat Netherlands 216-215 to set up the semi-final clash with the Koreans. Now India will take on Great Britain in the finals on Sunday.
    OGQ has funded the training of Rahul Banerjee and Tarundeep Rai under the renowned Korean coach  Lim Chae Wong. OGQ has also provided them the support of peak performance trainer Vaibhav Agashe and physiotherapist Dr. Nikhil Latey, Head, Sports Science and Rehabilitation at OGQ.
    Wish our archers good luck for the final on Sunday.
    Cheers,
    Team OGQ

  • 98 entries for inaugural Autocross Nationals

    Bangalore, 29 April 2012:  The opening event of the inaugural edition of the AOM Indian National Autocross Championship has received a tremendous response with 98 entries and top drivers from across the country with many established rally stars will showcase their skills at the Palace grounds here on Sunday.

    Some of the famous Indian National Championships are the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC), the Indian National Racing Championship (NRC) and the Indian National Karting championship of the 7 championships. The Indian National Drag Racing championship made a debut last year and this year it would be Indian National Autocross championship, thanks to the interest taken by promoters and organisers.

    Autorcross is a miniature version of the rally, where the spectators can enjoy watching the cars rally from a vantage point at one place without moving around for a fraction of the action during a rally.

    There are six categories in which participants can drive to gather points. The driver who gets most number of points, overall in the six events to be held across the country this year, will be champion. Many have entered in more than one category, of the six classes that are based on cubic capacity of the engines while a seventh category is only for women.

    Like the famous Australian Autocross, the event will see two drivers starting at the same time and competing against each other. They start from two different points and criss cross each other with the wooden bridge acting as a highlight with each driver going over it once and under it to complete the cross-over. However, the best-timed particpant will be on the leaderboard. Points are given to the first ten. The two lanes of the track measure to about 900 metres a lap and will be run twice. After the qualifying to determine the starting order, the Autocross proper will be held on Sunday afternoon and Monday.

    The recce on Saturday was a bit delayed but nevertheless entertaining. With both the organisers and participants racing against the clock, to get the cross-over bridge ready, it was an anxious wait, worth it in the end.

    Mysore maestro Lohitt Urs, who quit MRF to prove his stuff in INRC last year, Rahul Kanthraj, the jovial tactician, Vikram Devadasen, the technical hero and the evergreen Chetan Shivaram with the pompous Babban Khan will be some stars to watch.

    Two cars will race against each other at a time over two laps on a circuit that is a mix of tight corners and fast sections that should test the driver and also the tuner of the car. The autocross has a unique, dirt and tarmac mix as the sections will see a run on both the hard and rough terrains providing a challenge for the tyre performance.

    The first place gets 25 points and the one who finishes 10th, one point, just as in Formula One.

    Calendar: The six rounds of the Indian National Autocross Championship will take place in Bangalore, Kochi (May 26-27), Coimbatore (July 14-15), Chennai (Sep 15-16) and Mumbai (Nov 3-4) and Bangalore on Dec 8-9.

    It’s official: The Federation of Motorsports Clubs in India, the official ASN of FIA, the international federation, has granted a national status to the National Autocross Championship. It would be run under the aegis of Federation Internationale de l’Automabile (FIA) and subject to regulations laid down the international federation. So the FIA Sporting Code and FIA General Prescriptions (GP for Rally) and the FMSCI Autocross Championship Regulations will be under force.

    Tarmac Queen returns: Navaz Sandhu, a star of yesteryears, who was dubbed as Tarmac Queen for her prohibitive speeds on hard surface, has successfully conducted as the clerk of the course, the two new rallies in Jodhpur and Orissa in the last two years for Indian National Rally Championship. She will be back, in the drivers’ seat, as she confirmed for the opening leg in Bangalore.

    Safety first: Safety of the spectators, participants and everyone is of prime importance. As per the Federation guidelines, organisers have taken strong measures to barricade the entire circuit for spectator safety. Trauma care ambulances and fire engines are all in place, standing by for any emergency that all motorsports events throw up.

    Rock your way: Two decades and going strong. Parikrama, will be there to rock the speedsters. The promoters and organisers saw it fit to provide a wholesome entertainment for the motorsport fans. And there you rock. The INAC Rock Hammer Competition is around. Several rock bands are expected to get an opportunity to showcase their talents and to perform alongside the everlasting Parikrama, Palace Grounds will ROCK on Sunday.

    The BIG BOYS, we call them PANDHIS: The Bangalore Pandhis are a familiar name in the motoring circles. They don the stunning machines you and me dream of. The Harley Davidsons. Its not just a machine. It is a beast. The BIG BOYS will be here to entertain and show off. The Promoters Wynnsport, made sure that the Harley Davidson Club, showcase at least 25 bikes of their members.

    Acrobatics: There will also be an Adventure Zone, complete with rappelling and games as well as an acrobatic show by the group Lakshya of Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bi Karega fame.

    ends

  • I will be extra focussed in Bahrain, says Narain

    Bahrain: International Circuit – 57 laps – 5.412 km
    Manama, Monday 16th of April 2012

    Narain Karthikeyan (Left). HRT F1 team photo.
    It’s back-to-back races for the second consecutive time this season with the Championship stopping off in Bahrain. This will be the last event held far away from home before the teams head into the European swing of the season.HRT Formula 1 Team has progressed leaps and bounds since the season started down under and, with its own particular “preseason” completed, the Spanish outfit is now working more efficiently as a unit and faces the race in Bahrain much more settled and than in previous races. Without hardly any time for greater upgrades, the weather conditions and the track itself present another great challenge that Pedro de la Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan take on with great motivation.
    The Bahrain International Circuit is a tough track for tyres and brakes alike. There are various tight corners following long straights, with the cars coming down from 320 km/h to 70 km/h, meaning that good grip and efficient braking are key factors. The three long straights mean that, with the aid of DRS and slipstreaming, there are plenty of overtaking opportunities.
    Pirelli have elected their soft and medium tyres for this Grand Prix.
    Pedro de la Rosa, #22: “The Bahrain International Circuit is a difficult track because it has strong braking corners and it’s very easy to overrun coming into them. The three things we need to work on there are: for the car to brake well, have good grip and achieve a good top speed. It’s a circuit I like because I made my debut for McLaren there, so I’ve got good memories of it, I also achieved my first fastest lap in a race there too. In Bahrain the objective is to continue the improvement which we clearly saw in China, where we took a big step. Now we must maintain our reliability but in a hotter climate, we have to try and take the same step that we took in China”.
    Narain Karthikeyan, #23: “I don’t know the circuit in Bahrain so I’m going to have to be extra focused and make the most of my time in the car. We have an idea of what we think the set-up should be, so we’ll see if this works. We’re going to try a few things in Bahrain and, hopefully, this will help us to improve and progress further. What I do know about this track is that the weather is going to be very hot and we’ve struggled a bit in hot conditions this season so far because of the cooling system in the car, so we’re going to have to work very hard on this. After a good performance in Malaysia, we’ll be looking to further reduce the gap to the group ahead of us”.
    Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal: “Without any time to enjoy or analyze the Chinese Grand Prix, we already find ourselves in another country and another Grand Prix, so we have to work against the clock to study all the data gathered in Shanghai and make the corresponding adjustments for Bahrain. This Grand Prix will take place in very different conditions and, although we could say that we’ve made up for the lack of preseason and are now at the starting point, our biggest weakness is still cooling. Here that is a key factor but I’m confident we can continue along the same line as in the last races and will be able to progress a little bit more this weekend. Narain and Pedro, just like the rest of the team, have arrived very motivated and I hope that that work and motivation translates into another good result for our young team”.

  • Sarath Kumar becomes first Indian rider to bag international points

    Imola, 8 April 2012: The first Indian MotoGP driver Sarath Kumar, became the first Indian to earn International points finishing 7th after his teammate, Riccardo Moretti won the 125GP/Moto3 race of the year at the Italian Championship in  Imola’s Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.

    “It is a moment of great pride and I the satisfaction of scoring my first points in an international championship is an amazing feeling,” said an elated Sarath Kumar. “I am thankful to all the encouragement and support given to me by the Mahindra team, my manager and the everyone at the Group,” he added.

    Anand Mahindra, Vice Chairman and MD, Mahindra & Mahindra who was present teo witness the historic moment for India said: “We are ecstatic about our second consecutive win in the Italian Championship today. Riccardo Moretti has shown tremendous skill and expertise in negotiating the circuit under damp conditions. We are particularly proud of our fellow Indian Sarath Kumar for scoring his first-ever International points.” Incidentally, they are international points for an Indian rider for the first time.

    After heavy rainfall, the Italian track was still wet for the 125/Moto3 race. Riccardo Moretti got a good start and had to fight immediately with Moto3 riders for the first overall position. At the end of the 10th lap Moretti got the chequered flag while his team-mate Kumar ended up with a fantastic 7th position.

    At the end of this second race, Moretti maintained the leadership in the standings with 50 points while Kumar is currently ninth, thanks to the 9 points obtained on Sunday.

    Next CIV race is scheduled for the 29th of April at Monza.

    “It’s been a really tough race. My bike improved a lot compared to yesterday’s qualifying, but we were not still 100% with the set-up. My technicians were still impressive to allow me to win the second race in a row in the Italian Championship,” said a pleased Riccardo Moretti.

    “I was involved in some hard fight straight after the start with some Moto3 riders and it’s been a good race, although the track conditions have made it all harder. I’m happy for the win and I want to thank Mahindra and all my team.”

    125 GP- Italian Championship – Race : 1. Moretti (Mahindra); 2. Dalla Porta (Aprilia); 3. Mantovani (Aprilia); 4. Carpi (Aprilia); 5. Mazzola (Aprilia); 6. Arciero (Aprilia); 7. Kumar (Mahindra);

     

    File picture with Anand Mahindra: Photo: Mahindra Racing

    ends