By IANS
New Delhi : India’s I sport international driver Kuran Chandhok, who had a podium finish during the second race of the GP2 Asia series in Dubai, says he is confident of breaking into the Formula One team by the end of this year
The 24-year-old from Chennai, who was in the capital Thursday for the launch of the superbikes and formula car by the JK Tyres and Industries Ltd, was qualified fourth on the second row of the grid in the first-ever GP2 Asia Series race weekend at Dubai Autodrome and is looking forward to a “busy’ year ahead.
“I had a promising start this year. I am happy about my performance in the GP2 series. To qualify in GP2 is not easy and we qualified in top five. I have a long, long season ahead, with 29 races to go. There is no reason why with a good performance, GP2 can’t be my launch pad for the F1 by the end of the season,” Chandhok said.
He is also happy with his team in Dubai though it wasn’t a smooth ride for him.
“Dubai was a good experience. It’s important to know your team and know each other. I have to get used to their style of racing, they had to mine.”
With the series now moving to Sentul in Indonesia Feb 15 and 16, Chandhok backed by Red Bull, JK Tyres, Amaron and ICSA Logistics is optimistic of putting up a competitive show.
“I am not saying that we will win. But I feel we should. The performance in the first two rounds of the GP2 reaffirms that we can be competitive and reach top five in the championship,” he said.
Chandhok also feels motor sport in India is in a far “healthier” state than when he had started in 2000, and with India added to the Grand Prix schedule in 2010, he feels it has a bright scope to be a national sport.
“When I had started in 2000, F1 was very much a south India oriented. We have only two racetracks in India and that too down south. But now we have people from all across the country showing interest in the sport. With first national F-1 championship in 2010, I feel the sport has the potential to become a national sport,” he says.
He, however, acknowledges the fact that the sport is a difficult career option, but says that with more and more companies showing interest in the F1, this will set a good platform for the youngsters interested in the sports.
“It is indeed a difficult career option in India. With an overall budget of 2.2 million euros, (Rs.130 million), the money requirement is huge. So we are short on the full budget. But as the season progresses, hope it will get sorted out.”
“When I started there, the options were limited. But with more companies showing interest in the sport, it is nice to see young kids have a place to start with.”