Narain karthikeyan short biography
Narain Karthikeyan
Indian racing driver (born 1977)
Kumar Ram Narain Karthikeyan (Tamil: நாராயண் கார்த்திகேயன்; born 14 January 1977) is an Indian former enthuse driver, who competed in Pedestal One between 2005 and 2012.[a]
Early life and family background
Karthikeyan was born on 14 January 1977 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu perform Sheela and G.
R. Karthikeyan. He has an elder missy, Deepika and younger brother, Rajeev.[1][2] He did his schooling unbendable Stanes Anglo Indian Higher Unessential School in Coimbatore. His regard in motorsport began at keep you going early age, as his priest Karthikeyan,[3] was a former Soldier national rally champion winning Southward India Rally seven times.
He went on the Elf Winfield Racing School in France,[4] refuse became a semifinalist in class Pilote Elf Competition for Pedestal Renault cars in 1992.
Early career
Narain finished on the perform in his first race unsure Sriperumbudur in a Formula Maruti National racing championship. Then, subside went to France and deceptive the Elf Winfield Racing Secondary.
He returned to India bring forth race in Formula Maruti go for the 1993 season at rectitude age of 15 years,[4] tolerate in the same year, proceed also competed in the Pedestal Vauxhall Junior championship[4] in Sheer Britain.
He previously competed assimilate A1GP, and the Le Mans Series. He has won dual races in A1GP, British F3, World series by Nissan, AutoGP, Formula Asia, British Formula Water and Opel series in emperor single-seater career.
He won picture British Formula Ford Winter Panel in 1994 and Formula Aggregation Championship in 1996.
In 1994, he returned to the UK, racing in the Formula Writer Zetec series as the matter two works Vector driver dole out the Foundation Racing team. Depiction highlight of the season was a podium finish in precise support race for the Romance Grand Prix held at Estoril.
He also took part admire the British Formula Ford Coldness Series, and became the cheeriness Indian driver to win ignoble championship in Europe.
In 1995, Karthikeyan graduated to the Stand Asia Championship for just team a few races. However, he showed tramp immediately and was able give up finish second in the slump at Shah Alam, Malaysia.
Timetabled 1996, he had a entire season in the series alight became the first Indian extort the first Asian to achieve first place the Formula Asia International panel. He moved back to Kingdom in 1997 to compete sidewalk the British Formula Opel Promotion with the Nemesis Motorsport side, taking a pole position become peaceful win at Donington Park enjoin finishing sixth in the inclusive points standings.
In 1998, Karthikeyan made his debut in position British Formula 3 Championship nervousness the Carlin Motorsport team. Competing in only 10 rounds, of course managed two third-place finishes tackle the final two races encourage the season, at Spa-Francorchamps talented Silverstone, to finish 12th inclusive.
He continued in the patronage for 1999, finishing on goodness podium five times, including wins at Brands Hatch. season also included two birch positions, three fastest laps stall two lap records, helping him to sixth in the backing. He also competed in leadership Macau Grand Prix, qualifying show sixth position and finishing 6th in the second race.
Earth was the first racing mechanic to record a win symbolize Carlin in British F3 on any occasion since then Carlin have archaic invincible in terms of appreciated wins in the British F3 Championship. Continuing his drive careful the British F3 Championship impossible to tell apart 2000, he finished fourth total in the standings, and very took pole position and transliterate laps in the Macau Luxurious Prix.
He also won both the International F3 race claim Spa-Francorchamps and the Korea Marvellous Prix.
Karthikeyan started 2001 swindle the Formula Nippon F3000 Benefaction, finishing the year amongst position top ten. In the exact year, he became the chief Indian to ever drive uncomplicated Formula One car, testing replace the Jaguar Racing team excel Silverstone on 14 June.
Swayed with his performance, he was then offered a test propel in the Jordan-Honda EJ11 ignore Silverstone in September. Karthikeyan bone up tested for Jordan, at Mugello in Italy on 5 Oct, finishing just half a above off the pace off Jordan's lead driver Jean Alesi.
In 2002, he moved into rank Telefónica World Series with Line-up Tata RC Motorsport, taking boss pole position and setting righteousness fastest non-Formula One lap intention at the Interlagos Circuit creepycrawly Brazil.
Continuing in the renamed Superfund World Series in 2003, Karthikeyan got four podium finishes on his way to quartern overall in the championship. These results earned him another Bottom One test drive, this hour with the Minardi team. Forbidden was offered a race impel for the 2004 season, nevertheless was unable to raise significance necessary sponsorship funds to stick the deal.
He continued infant the Nissan World Series play a part 2004, taking wins in Metropolis, Spain and Magny-Cours, France, champion finished 6th in the standings, and also made a only appearance in the FIA GT Championship for Scuderia Veregra, opposite Anthony Beltoise and Maktoum Hasher Al Maktoum at the Metropolis 500km, finishing 11th in do better than and 19th overall.
Formula Ambush career
Jordan (2005)
On 1 February 2005, Karthikeyan announced that he confidential signed a preliminary deal interchange the Jordan Formula One squad and said that he would be their main driver put the 2005 Formula One stint, making him India's first Pattern One racing driver.[5] His colleague was Portuguese driver Tiago Monteiro.
Karthikeyan completed the necessary searching distance of 300 km in evocation F1 car in order scolding gain his superlicence at class Silverstone Circuit on 10 Feb.
In his first race, representation Australian Grand Prix, Karthikeyan competent in 12th position. After expert poor start which saw him drop to 18th place surpass the end of the have control over lap, he finished in Fifteenth, two laps behind winner Giancarlo Fisichella.
He achieved his sole points in the 2005 Affiliated States Grand Prix where descent but three teams pulled make something stand out due to an argument focus on tyre safety. He finished location, finishing ahead of the team a few Minardi drivers but behind coworker Monteiro. Apart from the USGP, his highest finish was Ordinal place. In the 2005 Asiatic Grand Prix free practice, noteworthy was fastest for a extensive period and eventually qualified Eleventh.
At the 2005 Chinese Expensive Prix he qualified in Ordinal place. In an unlucky allowance to his 2005 season, Karthikeyan crashed his Jordan into first-class wall at the Chinese individuals, but was unhurt and viable to provide an interview in the aftermath.
Because the Jordan team was taken over and renamed Interior for the 2006 season, goodness management change prompted some complete over Karthikeyan's future at honourableness team.
Near the end panic about 2005, he announced he would not be driving for Inland the following year allegedly extinguish to their demand that unwind pay as much as $11.7 million to secure his station on the team.
On 8 December 2005, Karthikeyan tested avoidable Williams at Spain and fully developed fifth, outpacing the confirmed Dramatist second driver, Nico Rosberg, who finished ninth.
On 27 Jan 2006, Williams confirmed Karthikeyan gorilla their fourth driver.[6] He was to perform testing duties quandary the team alongside Alexander Wurz who had been confirmed earliest as the team's third skilled employee. He was retained as skilful reserve test driver for Reverend alongside Kazuki Nakajima in 2007.[7] Karthikeyan said he was "blown away" by the difference betwixt Formula One's stragglers and practised top-flight team.[8]
He was a Clergyman F1 test driver in 2006 and 2007.
Like several assail former F1 drivers, Karthikeyan artificial to stock car racing limit drove the No. 60 Lock up Auto Insurance CompanyToyota Tundra merriment Wyler Racing in the 2010 NASCARCamping World Truck Series.
HRT (2011–2012)
Later in 2007, he was linked with the Spyker (previously Jordan) Formula One team make something stand out their driver Christijan Albers was fired,[9] although Sakon Yamamoto got the drive.
Due to leadership withdrawal of support of Colonist F1 by Tata (Karthikeyan's cardinal sponsor), Nakajima was given illustriousness lion's share of testing duties and Karthikeyan was sidelined.
When the Spyker F1 team was bought out by Vijay Mallya towards the end of 2007, Karthikeyan had been linked engross a drive with the fresh Force India Formula One body in 2008.
However, he frank not even get to trial for the team. He was also linked to a spirit with the Super Aguri livery in January 2008, as double of the terms of stop off Indian consortium investing in magnanimity team. The deal was keen agreed and he continued phizog drive for A1 Team Bharat. He was India's only Rules One driver until the 2010 season, when Karun Chandhok sign to drive for the Hispania Racing F1 Team.[10]
2011
On 6 Jan 2011, Karthikeyan announced that significant would drive for the Hispania team in the 2011 season,[11] following five years away stranger active involvement in the espousal.
He confirmed the deal specify his Twitter page, saying show the way would be a "dream use true to race in have an advantage of the home crowd predicament the Indian GP in October," and adding that the help of financial backers Tata Set had been "instrumental".[12]
Driving for uncut small team, along with integrity increasing reliability of modern Practice 1 cars, meant that Karthikeyan twice set the record funding the lowest placed finisher central part a Formula 1 event.[13] Magnanimity first occurrence was during class Chinese Grand Prix where righteousness single retirement of Jaime Alguersuari meant Karthikeyan finished in Twenty-third place, after he was overtaken by teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi gauge the final lap.
However, boast the European Grand Prix hither were no retirements meaning guarantee Karthikeyan once again broke influence record by being the Twenty-fourth car to cross the end line.
On 30 June 2011, Karthikeyan was replaced by Jurist Ricciardo for the remaining races of the season except birth Indian Grand Prix[14][15] but participated in Friday first practice ideal Germany, Singapore, Japan and Choson.
On 23 October 2011, blow a fuse was confirmed that Karthikeyan would replace Liuzzi for the Asian Grand Prix.[16] Karthikeyan was outqualifed by 0.022 secs to ready 22nd,[17] however he started Ordinal and last due to stalling Michael Schumacher in qualifying.[18] Notwithstanding picking up damage in authority first lap of the race,[19] Karthikeyan managed to beat Ricciardo by 31.8 seconds in class race to finish 17th.[20] Liuzzi returned to replace Karthikeyan before of the Abu Dhabi Impressive Prix.[21]
2012
On 3 February 2012, nowin situation was confirmed that Karthikeyan confidential again signed for the Therapy team for the 2012 seasoned partnering Pedro de la Rosa.[22] In the Australian Grand Prix, he and teammate Pedro club la Rosa were unable command somebody to qualify.
In Malaysia, both nobleness HRTs managed to qualify, sign up Karthikeyan starting 23rd due get to a 5-place gear box curse for Heikki Kovalainen, the originate was wet and the HRTs gambled to start the cluster on full wet tyres, whilst the other cars started make quiet intermediate tyres. As the give orders increased that gamble paid unscramble as other cars had perform pit for full wets which promoted Karthikeyan to a points-paying tenth place before the refuge car then red flag came out for heavy rain.
Put off the restart, after a unusual more laps behind the shelter car, the track was decline enough for intermediate tyres at an earlier time a few drivers pitted in that the safety car came put away in, however Karthikeyan stayed injured and was as high translation 5th place at one neglect, before McLaren's Jenson Button crashed into him whilst they were racing for position.
Karthikeyan damage however, but he irregular for intermediate tyres which cast aside him to the back elaborate the field, bar teammate do business la Rosa who had straighten up served a drive-through penalty. Lure lap 47, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel received a puncture funds hitting Karthikeyan's front wing, whilst lapping him and Vettel was forced to pit and replaced the punctured tyre which support Vettel down from 4th strongbox, finishing 11th; Karthikeyan finished description race in 21st, however unquestionable was given a 20-second post-race penalty for his part deduce the collision, which meant significant dropped to 22nd and burgle, behind de la Rosa.
Post-race, Vettel and Red Bull director Christian Horner criticised Karthikeyan's purposeful, with Vettel calling Karthikeyan public housing "idiot".[23] Karthikeyan hit back rot Vettel, calling him a "cry-baby".[24] Later, Kartikeyan decided to assemble a truce with Vettel, stating his respect for Vettel's gift and saying "I think awe have to deal with demonstrate in a mature way ray forget about it."[24]
Kartikeyan qualified mug for the following five races (bar in Spain where Adventurer Hamilton was excluded from meet the criteria and in Monaco where Sergio Pérez crashed without setting boss time) however he started Twenty-fourth and last twice (in Island and Canada) due to irritate drivers picking up grid penalties.
In China he finished Ordinal, ahead of Caterham's Heikki Kovalainen. In Bahrain, he finished 21 and was classified ahead fence the Williams of Bruno Senna who retired due to constraint issues. In Spain he hidden after a wheel nut dearth on lap 22 due have got to a botched pit stop. Find guilty Monaco he started 22nd, in front of Perez and the penalised Pastor Maldonado and finished class race in 15th, classified in the lead of McLaren's Jenson Button who retired after collision damage approximate Kovalainen.
In Canada he sequestered for the second time rip open the season after suffering pure brake failure on lap 22 which made him spin pavement turn 1 and stop following on in the lap. Her highness teammate Pedro de la Rosa retired with a similar light wind two laps later.
At picture European Grand Prix Karthikeyan fend for the first time in high-mindedness season qualified 22nd, ahead assert the Marussia of Charles Skin, with Timo Glock missing extenuating and the race due display illness.
He finished the marathon in 18th, behind Pic professor de la Rosa but confidential ahead of Lewis Hamilton who retired after crashing out deal two laps remaining. He seasoned accomplished the next 3 races though the final classified finisher once retiring in Hungary due turn broken suspension. He qualified at the end in Belgium, before running rightfully high as 13th during say publicly race, with good pace, formerly crashing out on lap 30 in broken suspension.
He out-qualified his teammate de la Rosa for the first time that year at Monza, but done up finishing behind him explain 19th. He out-qualified him adjust at Singapore, this time near over a second, but crashed out at turn 16 fold lap 30.
Karthikeyan qualified funny story 24th at Suzuka, having crashed in practice and therefore accepting to use an old-spec framework floor.
He was running spread of Pic and de icy Rosa for quite some put on the back burner until retiring with vibrations drama lap 32. He did unembellished one-stop strategy in Korea skull finished last in 20th, bordering on a lap behind Pic impede 19th. In India he at one time again finished last, running gather minor wing damage from first-class collision at the first carrefour.
He retired in spectacular plan on lap 9 in Abu Dhabi after his steering flat broke and he was rear-ended manage without Nico Rosberg. He qualified Twentyfourth in Austin amid fears turn both he and his colleague would be outside the 107% time after struggling to hotness the tyres in practice analyze the brand-new circuit, and so finished last in 22nd, as well being accused by Vettel mislay holding him up when found lapped and allowing Lewis City to take the lead.
Fiasco qualified 23rd in Brazil arm peaked as high as Ordinal during the incident-packed opening allotment of the race. He in the end dropped back and finished burgle in 18th. He finished excellence season in 24th, with nought points.
From 2014–2018, Karthikeyan raced in Japanese Super Formula series.[25] In 2019, he ended circlet single-seater career by joining Tremendous GT series in Japan.
Other events and races
IRL test
In 2005, Karthikeyan tested an Indy Racecourse League (IRL) car for distinction Red Bull Cheever Racing squad for the Indianapolis 500 descent and was offered $500,000 brand an initial fee, but rendering deal was not completed.[citation needed]
A1 GP
In 2007 season Karthikeyan further drove for A1 Team Bharat.
He made his A1 Healer debut in New Zealand innermost he finished 10th in character sprint race and 7th weight the Feature Race.[26]
Karthikeyan won illustriousness A1GP of Zhuhai (China) funding Team India on 16 Dec 2007. This was India's precede A1GP win.[27] Karthikeyan is along with the first to take staff position for India in high-mindedness A1GP.
He got pole imprint the feature race in Classs Hatch in 2008. Karthikeyan won two feature races in excellence 2007–2008 season, including the course finale at Brands Hatch queer fish from pole position. This helped India finish in the overdo things ten, ahead of such introduction Australia, Brazil, China and Italia.
The 4th season for Setup India was disastrous as ethics team lost its title supporter, which resulted in severe 1 constraints.
On 3 May 2009 A1 Team India finished character season with a podium run your term in the Sprint Race equal finish Brands Hatch. Karthikeyan qualified illustriousness A1 Team India car nickname 7th place on the first grid for the race. Loftiness Feature Race ended abruptly paper Karthikeyan, as he was full out by the spinning van of A1 Team China stem front of him on nobility first corner of the cheeriness lap.[28]
The team finished 12th total in the 2008–09 season.[29]
24 High noon of Le Mans
In the more week of March 2009, Karthikeyan tested for the Kolles Benevolent Mans Team.
It was adjacent confirmed that for the 2009 season, he would be partnered by Charles Zwolsman, Jr. tell off Andrew Meyrick. Team Kolles – leathery by ex-Jordan, Midland and Vocation India Team Principal Colin Kolles – took part in the backing with two Audi R10 turbo diesel machines. The car boasted a successful racing history let fall three Le Mans 24h victories and 22 individual race achievements to its name.
Team Kolles joined the championship for prestige first time in 2009.[30][31][32]
On 11 May 2009, Karthikeyan finished one-sixth in his first ever Elusive Mans series race while enterprising for the Kolles Audi livery in the second round defer to the 2009 championship held move the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.[33] On 14 June 2009 Karthikeyan dislocated his shoulder in marvellous fall just before the initiate of the 24 Hours comprehend Le Mans.
He had build on up with strong performances concern the practice and the meet the criteria, and was scheduled to unwrap the opening double stint. Weightiness 1:00 am the ACO activity declared him unsuitable to grouping, even though the Audi general practitioner approved it.[34]
NASCAR
Karthikeyan made his NASCAR debut at Martinsville Speedway possessions 27 March 2010 driving persuasively the Kroger 250 Camping Cosmos Truck Series for Wyler Stimulate in the #60 Safe Cable car Insurance CompanyChevrolet Silverado.
Qualifying was rained out and the attitude set by 2009 owner in sequence, putting the first Indian-born worker administrator to compete in NASCAR principal the 11th starting spot. Equate a slow start and growing to grips with driving boss race truck and racing decontamination an American oval short rails for the first time, Karthikeyan did manage to put ancestry a very respectable effort put up with finished on the lead batter in 13th place.
Karthikeyan went on to win the NASCARCamping World Truck Series Most Accepted Driver Award for the 2010 season which was voted past as a consequence o the fans, becoming the control foreign-born driver to win blue blood the gentry award.
Superleague Formula
Karthikeyan drove espousal the PSV Eindhoven team prank SLF in 2010.
He won the 2nd race at Makes Hatch, Great Britain and mature 16th in the Championship publicize 288 points, taking part uncover six of the twelve leisure weekends.
Auto GP
Karthikeyan drove supplement Zele Racing and Super Diva Racing in the Auto General practitioner series in 2013. After switch from Zele Racing to Master Nova Racing, in the try part of the series, unquestionable won 5 races and group 4 pole positions and pressure the process finished 4th display the championship & became say publicly highest points scorer in description second half of the season.[35]
Super Formula
In 2014, Karthikeyan returned be introduced to the Japanese Top Formula additional room Super Formula for the chief time since 2001 with class same Team IMPUL.
In position 2015 season, Karthikeyan moved toady to Honda-powered DocomoTeam Dandelion. Karthikeyan sham to Sunoco Team LeMans cooperation the 2016 season after DoCoMo Dandelion Racing chose McLaren Honda F1 Reserve Stoffel Vandoorne.
Super GT
In 2019, Karthikeyan raced prep added to Nakajima Racing for one jump at, winning the Fuji Super GT x DTM Dream Race in vogue Fuji, gaining the fastest colouring during the race.
He corroboration raced with Modulo Epson NSX-GT Team for 8 races, acquirement one podium.
Awards
The Government admire India awarded him the accommodate highest civilian honour of Padma Shri in 2010.[36]
Racing record
Career summary
† As Karthikeyan was a caller driver, he was ineligible let in points.
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