I’ll make it before 30:Karthikeyan
Afternoon — November 7, 2003

Sixteen races in the season, five podium finishes, second position in the World series championships (practically a F2 circuit). If this was cricket, it would’ve been raining sponsors and endorsement offers. Enter the world of race, thrills and frills… but Narain Karthikeyan finds no takers!

India’s pioneer in the racing world, the only one to test a Formula 1 car, Karthikeyan was present to kick-off an adventure project with his sponsors – the Tatas. “Unfortunately motorsport is not about talent alone. It is often dictated by sponsors, money and a whole lot of things outside racing.”

This year has been the most fulfilling and satisfactory season for Narain. “I believe I’ve made some improvements from last year, my confidence levels have been much higher.” Currently, second in the standings, Narain says that’s perhaps the best he can get this season. “Franc Montagmy is leading the championship and with the existing points-system, there is little chance of catching up. But considering that there are a few ex-F1 drivers in the fray, I am looking to consolidate my position this season.”

Unfortunately, with top little in the pipeline, regardless of the performance, it seems another season with the Tatas in the same class. “Some or the other offers keep coming, but we need substantive sponsors to match them,” he said. It was only this year that Narain and his group narrowly missed the zooming F1 car. “The House of Tatas have been giving their best. But sometimes one is helpless.”

But Narain refuses to let negative vibes overpower his dream. He says, “Damien Hill became a Formula 1 driver at 31, and went on to do bigger things. There have been others who have made it late. I am only 26 now. My target is to make it before I hit 30”.

In a sport so prominently dominated by finance, India’s ace driver asks the aspiring F1 brigade to make ‘commitment’ the buzzword. His message goes, “I ‘ve never believed I will not get there. It’s important to have a firm commitment with yourself. If my being the pioneer can makes things better for the others, than I am only too happy’