Motor Sports Association of India President Nazir Hoosein has said promoting Narain Karthikeyan would not only help the ace driver realise his dream of driving a Formula One car but also quicken the arrival of Grand Prix racing in the country. 

Not expecting the F1 to come to India before 2010, Hoosein said funding Narain would serve the twin purpose of helping him breakthrough into elite racing while also boosting the fans' interest in the sport back home. 

"Narain may be too old by the time F1 arrives in India, which at a tentative estimate would be six or seven years down the road. In fact, he should be promoted to accelerate the interest in F1 to shorten the time," Hoosein told PTI in an exclusive interview on Sunday. 

The motor sports chief ranked the 27-year old Indian among the best of new generation Formula racers. 

"He is very good and could be placed alongside some of the new comers in F1," said Hoosein. 

Asked if Narain's dream of becoming the first Indian to drive in an F1 race was fast becoming a mirage due to lack of sponsors, he said, "if the money comes in, it is still possible." 

An aspiring F1 driver needs not just the talent and skill but also millions of dollars to get a contract at the beginning stages of his career.