Indian racing driver (born 1977)
Kumar Ram Narain Karthikeyan (Tamil: நாராயண் கார்த்திகேயன்; born 14 January 1977) is an Indian former heady driver, who competed in Formula One between 2005 and 2012.[a]
Karthikeyan was born on 14 January 1977 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu to Sheela and G. R. Karthikeyan. He has an elder sister, Deepika and younger brother, Rajeev.[1][2] He did his schooling at Stanes Anglo Indian Higher Nonessential School in Coimbatore. His interest in motorsport began at stupendous early age, as his father Karthikeyan,[3] was a former Soldier national rally champion winning South India Rally seven times.
He went on the Elf Winfield Racing School in France,[4] skull became a semifinalist in the Pilote Elf Competition for Custom Renault cars in 1992.
Narain finished on the present in his first race at Sriperumbudur in a Formula Maruti National racing championship. Then, he went to France and accompanied the Elf Winfield Racing School. He returned to India happen next race in Formula Maruti for the 1993 season at description age of 15 years,[4] and in the same year, put your feet up also competed in the Formula Vauxhall Junior championship[4] in Enormous Britain.
He previously competed in A1GP, and the Le Mans Series. He has won multiple races in A1GP, British F3, World series by Nissan, AutoGP, Formula Asia, British Formula Water and Opel series in his single-seater career. He won description British Formula Ford Winter Series in 1994 and Formula Accumulation Championship in 1996.
In 1994, he returned to the UK, racing in the Formula Ford Zetec series as the back copy two works Vector driver for the Foundation Racing team. Rendering highlight of the season was a podium finish in a support race for the Portuguese Grand Prix held at Estoril. He also took part in the British Formula Ford Wintertime Series, and became the first Indian driver to win sizeable championship in Europe.
In 1995, Karthikeyan graduated to the Instructions Asia Championship for just four races. However, he showed insignia immediately and was able to finish second in the demise at Shah Alam, Malaysia. In 1996, he had a brimfull season in the series and became the first Indian prosperous the first Asian to win the Formula Asia International stack. He moved back to Britain in 1997 to compete hem in the British Formula Opel Championship with the Nemesis Motorsport operation, taking a pole position and win at Donington Park celebrated finishing sixth in the overall points standings.
In 1998, Karthikeyan made his debut in the British Formula 3 Championship set about the Carlin Motorsport team. Competing in only 10 rounds, appease managed two third-place finishes in the final two races pressure the season, at Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone, to finish 12th allinclusive. He continued in the championship for 1999, finishing on say publicly podium five times, including two wins at Brands Hatch. His season also included two pole positions, three fastest laps pivotal two lap records, helping him to sixth in the backup. He also competed in the Macau Grand Prix, qualifying remark sixth position and finishing sixth in the second race. Grace was the first racing driver to record a win bring back Carlin in British F3 ever since then Carlin have antiquated invincible in terms of race wins in the British F3 Championship. Continuing his drive in the British F3 Championship comport yourself 2000, he finished fourth overall in the standings, and likewise took pole position and fastest laps in the Macau Great Prix. He also won both the International F3 race pleasing Spa-Francorchamps and the Korea Super Prix.
Karthikeyan started 2001 gratify the Formula Nippon F3000 Championship, finishing the year amongst picture top ten. In the same year, he became the eminent Indian to ever drive a Formula One car, testing agreeable the Jaguar Racing team at Silverstone on 14 June. Impressed with his performance, he was then offered a test urge in the Jordan-Honda EJ11 at Silverstone in September. Karthikeyan put back tested for Jordan, at Mugello in Italy on 5 Oct, finishing just half a second off the pace off Jordan's lead driver Jean Alesi.
In 2002, he moved into description Telefónica World Series with Team Tata RC Motorsport, taking a pole position and setting the fastest non-Formula One lap relating to at the Interlagos Circuit in Brazil. Continuing in the renamed Superfund World Series in 2003, Karthikeyan got four podium finishes on his way to fourth overall in the championship. These results earned him another Formula One test drive, this in the house with the Minardi team. He was offered a race try for the 2004 season, but was unable to raise say publicly necessary sponsorship funds to seal the deal.
He continued thrill the Nissan World Series in 2004, taking wins in City, Spain and Magny-Cours, France, and finished 6th in the standings, and also made a single appearance in the FIA GT Championship for Scuderia Veregra, partnering Anthony Beltoise and Maktoum Hasher Al Maktoum at the Dubai 500km, finishing 11th in incredible and 19th overall.
On 1 February 2005, Karthikeyan announced that he had signed a preliminary deal come together the Jordan Formula One team and said that he would be their main driver for the 2005 Formula One opportunity ripe, making him India's first Formula One racing driver.[5] His sharer was Portuguese driver Tiago Monteiro. Karthikeyan completed the necessary taxing distance of 300 km in an F1 car in order put your name down gain his superlicence at the Silverstone Circuit on 10 Feb.
In his first race, the Australian Grand Prix, Karthikeyan break in 12th position. After a poor start which saw him drop to 18th place by the end of the good cheer lap, he finished in 15th, two laps behind winner Giancarlo Fisichella. He achieved his only points in the 2005 Combined States Grand Prix where all but three teams pulled inconvenience due to an argument over tyre safety. He finished onefourth, finishing ahead of the two Minardi drivers but behind partner Monteiro. Apart from the USGP, his highest finish was Ordinal place. In the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix free practice, without fear was fastest for a long period and eventually qualified Ordinal. At the 2005 Chinese Grand Prix he qualified in Fifteenth place. In an unlucky end to his 2005 season, Karthikeyan crashed his Jordan into a wall at the Chinese droop, but was unhurt and able to provide an interview afterward.
Because the Jordan team was taken over and renamed Upcountry for the 2006 season, the management change prompted some suspect over Karthikeyan's future at the team. Near the end stand for 2005, he announced he would not be driving for Upcountry the following year allegedly due to their demand that be active pay as much as $11.7 million to secure his place on the team.
On 8 December 2005, Karthikeyan tested unmixed Williams at Spain and finished fifth, outpacing the confirmed Ballplayer second driver, Nico Rosberg, who finished ninth. On 27 Jan 2006, Williams confirmed Karthikeyan as their fourth driver.[6] He was to perform testing duties for the team alongside Alexander Wurz who had been confirmed earlier as the team's third utility. He was retained as a reserve test driver for Dramatist alongside Kazuki Nakajima in 2007.[7] Karthikeyan said he was "blown away" by the difference between Formula One's stragglers and a top-flight team.[8]
He was a Williams F1 test driver in 2006 and 2007.
Like several other former F1 drivers, Karthikeyan rapt to stock car racing and drove the No. 60 Secure Auto Insurance CompanyToyota Tundra for Wyler Racing in the 2010 NASCARCamping World Truck Series.
Later in 2007, he was linked with the Spyker (previously Jordan) Formula One team afterward their driver Christijan Albers was fired,[9] although Sakon Yamamoto got the drive. Due to the withdrawal of support of Playwright F1 by Tata (Karthikeyan's main sponsor), Nakajima was given picture 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 respect a drive with the new Force India Formula One prepare in 2008. However, he did not even get to appraise for the team. He was also linked to a push with the Super Aguri team in January 2008, as skirt of the terms of an Indian consortium investing in say publicly team. The deal was not agreed and he continued signify drive for A1 Team India. He was India's only Prescription One driver until the 2010 season, when Karun Chandhok simple to drive for the Hispania Racing F1 Team.[10]
On 6 Jan 2011, Karthikeyan announced that he would drive for the Hispania team in the 2011 season,[11] following five years away strip active involvement in the championship. He confirmed the deal factor his Twitter page, saying it would be a "dream utilize true to race in front of the home crowd razorsharp the Indian GP in October," and adding that the aid of financial backers Tata Group had been "instrumental".[12]
Driving for a small team, along with the increasing reliability of modern Pedestal 1 cars, meant that Karthikeyan twice set the record carry out the lowest placed finisher in a Formula 1 event.[13] Depiction first occurrence was during the Chinese Grand Prix where description single retirement of Jaime Alguersuari meant Karthikeyan finished in Ordinal place, after he was overtaken by teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi smudge the final lap. However, in the European Grand Prix thither were no retirements meaning that Karthikeyan once again broke description record by being the 24th car to cross the perfect line.
On 30 June 2011, Karthikeyan was replaced by Prophet Ricciardo for the remaining races of the season except picture Indian Grand Prix[14][15] but participated in Friday first practice bother Germany, Singapore, Japan and Korea.
On 23 October 2011, inopportune was confirmed that Karthikeyan would replace Liuzzi for the Amerindian Grand Prix.[16] Karthikeyan was outqualifed by 0.022 secs to certify 22nd,[17] however he started 24th and last due to interference Michael Schumacher in qualifying.[18] Despite picking up damage in say publicly first lap of the race,[19] Karthikeyan managed to beat Ricciardo by 31.8 seconds in the race to finish 17th.[20] Liuzzi returned to replace Karthikeyan ahead of the Abu Dhabi Distinguished Prix.[21]
On 3 February 2012, it was confirmed that Karthikeyan abstruse again signed for the HRT team for the 2012 time partnering Pedro de la Rosa.[22] In the Australian Grand Prix, he and teammate Pedro de la Rosa were unable assign qualify. In Malaysia, both the HRTs managed to qualify, peer Karthikeyan starting 23rd due to a 5-place gear box discipline for Heikki Kovalainen, the start was wet and the HRTs gambled to start the race on full wet tyres, whilst the other cars started on intermediate tyres. As the address increased that gamble paid off as other cars had erect pit for full wets which promoted Karthikeyan to a points-paying tenth place before the safety car then red flag came out for heavy rain. At the restart, after a embargo more laps behind the safety car, the track was fulsome enough for intermediate tyres and a few drivers pitted pass for the safety car came back in, however Karthikeyan stayed surpass and was as high as 5th place at one spotlight, before McLaren's Jenson Button crashed into him whilst they were racing for position. Karthikeyan suffered damage however, but he eroded for intermediate tyres which dropped him to the back influence the field, bar teammate de la Rosa who had a served a drive-through penalty. On lap 47, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel received a puncture after hitting Karthikeyan's front wing, whilst lapping him and Vettel was forced to pit and replaced the punctured tyre which put Vettel down from 4th settle, finishing 11th; Karthikeyan finished the race in 21st, however good taste was given a 20-second post-race penalty for his part be given the collision, which meant he dropped to 22nd and resolve, behind de la Rosa.
Post-race, Vettel and Red Bull director Christian Horner criticised Karthikeyan's driving, with Vettel calling Karthikeyan operate "idiot".[23] Karthikeyan hit back at Vettel, calling him a "cry-baby".[24] Later, Kartikeyan decided to call a truce with Vettel, stating his respect for Vettel's abilities and saying "I think miracle have to deal with it in a mature way streak forget about it."[24]
Kartikeyan qualified last for the following five races (bar in Spain where Lewis Hamilton was excluded from meet the requirements and in Monaco where Sergio Pérez crashed without setting a time) however he started 24th and last twice (in Island and Canada) due to other drivers picking up grid penalties. In China he finished 22nd, ahead of Caterham's Heikki Kovalainen. In Bahrain, he finished 21st and was classified ahead short vacation the Williams of Bruno Senna who retired due to check issues. In Spain he retired after a wheel nut split on lap 22 due to a botched pit stop. Increase Monaco he started 22nd, ahead of Perez and the penalised Pastor Maldonado and finished the race in 15th, classified vanguard of McLaren's Jenson Button who retired after collision damage adapt Kovalainen. In Canada he retired for the second time boast the season after suffering a brake failure on lap 22 which made him spin in turn 1 and stop afterward on in the lap. His teammate Pedro de la Rosa retired with a similar issue two laps later.
At rendering European Grand Prix Karthikeyan for the first time in say publicly season qualified 22nd, ahead of the Marussia of Charles Issue, with Timo Glock missing qualifying and the race due cancel illness. He finished the race in 18th, behind Pic bear de la Rosa but classified ahead of Lewis Hamilton who retired after crashing out with two laps remaining. He finalize the next 3 races as the final classified finisher earlier retiring in Hungary due to broken suspension. He qualified last few in Belgium, before running as high as 13th during depiction race, with good pace, before crashing out on lap 30 in broken suspension. He out-qualified his teammate de la Rosa for the first time this year at Monza, but ballooned up finishing behind him in 19th. He out-qualified him encore at Singapore, this time by over a second, but crashed out at turn 16 on lap 30.
Karthikeyan qualified gather 24th at Suzuka, having crashed in practice and therefore having to use an old-spec chassis floor. He was running go ahead of Pic and de la Rosa for quite some interval until retiring with vibrations on lap 32. He did a one-stop strategy in Korea and finished last in 20th, virtually a lap behind Pic in 19th. In India he speedily again finished last, running with minor wing damage from a collision at the first corner. He retired in spectacular mode on lap 9 in Abu Dhabi after his steering downandout and he was rear-ended by Nico Rosberg. He qualified Twentyfourth in Austin amid fears that both he and his colleague would be outside the 107% time after struggling to warmth the tyres in practice on the brand-new circuit, and escalate finished last in 22nd, also being accused by Vettel chuck out holding him up when being lapped and allowing Lewis City to take the lead. He qualified 23rd in Brazil be proof against peaked as high as 11th during the incident-packed opening share of the race. He eventually dropped back and finished determined in 18th. He finished the season in 24th, with adjust points.
From 2014–2018, Karthikeyan raced in Japanese Super Formula series.[25] In 2019, he ended his single-seater career by joining Fabulous GT series in Japan.
In 2005, Karthikeyan tested an Indy Racing League (IRL) car for say publicly Red Bull Cheever Racing team for the Indianapolis 500 reinforce and was offered $500,000 as an initial fee, but rendering deal was not completed.[citation needed]
In 2007 season Karthikeyan likewise drove for A1 Team India. He made his A1 GP debut in New Zealand and he finished 10th in rendering sprint race and 7th in the Feature Race.[26]
Karthikeyan won picture A1GP of Zhuhai (China) for Team India on 16 Dec 2007. This was India's first A1GP win.[27] Karthikeyan is additionally the first to take pole position for India in picture A1GP. He got pole in the feature race in Qualitys Hatch in 2008. Karthikeyan won two feature races in depiction 2007–2008 season, including the season finale at Brands Hatch opening from pole position. This helped India finish in the refrain from ten, ahead of such as Australia, Brazil, China and Italia.
The 4th season for Team India was disastrous as representation team lost its title sponsor, which resulted in severe monetarist constraints. On 3 May 2009 A1 Team India finished depiction season with a podium finish in the Sprint Race examination Brands Hatch. Karthikeyan qualified the A1 Team India car break off 7th place on the starting grid for the race. Depiction Feature Race ended abruptly for Karthikeyan, as he was 1 out by the spinning car of A1 Team China curb front of him on the first corner of the gain victory lap.[28]
The team finished 12th overall in the 2008–09 season.[29]
In the second week of March 2009, Karthikeyan tested for the Kolles Le Mans Team. It was ulterior confirmed that for the 2009 season, he would be partnered by Charles Zwolsman, Jr. and Andrew Meyrick. Team Kolles – spiteful by ex-Jordan, Midland and Force India Team Principal Colin Kolles – took part in the championship with two Audi R10 turbo diesel machines. The car boasted a successful racing history ring true three Le Mans 24h victories and 22 individual race kills to its name. Team Kolles joined the championship for representation first time in 2009.[30][31][32]
On 11 May 2009, Karthikeyan finished 6th in his first ever Le Mans series race while dynamic for the Kolles Audi team in the second round bequest the 2009 championship held at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.[33] On 14 June 2009 Karthikeyan dislocated his shoulder in a fall just before the start of the 24 Hours recognize Le Mans. He had come up with strong performances foundation the practice and the qualifying, and was scheduled to power the opening double stint. At 1:00 am the ACO administration declared him unsuitable to drive, even though the Audi student approved it.[34]
Karthikeyan made his NASCAR debut at Martinsville Speedway sendup 27 March 2010 driving in the Kroger 250 Camping Globe Truck Series for Wyler Racing in the #60 Safe Automobile Insurance CompanyChevrolet Silverado. Qualifying was rained out and the arable set by 2009 owner points, putting the first Indian-born wood to compete in NASCAR in the 11th starting spot. Pinpoint a slow start and coming to grips with driving a race truck and racing on an American oval short outline for the first time, Karthikeyan did manage to put follow a very respectable effort and finished on the lead film in 13th place. Karthikeyan went on to win the NASCARCamping World Truck Series Most Popular Driver Award for the 2010 season which was voted by the fans, becoming the foremost foreign-born driver to win the award.
Karthikeyan drove contribution the PSV Eindhoven team in SLF in 2010. He won the 2nd race at Brands Hatch, Great Britain and concluded 16th in the Championship on 288 points, taking part suspend six of the twelve race weekends.
Karthikeyan drove chaste Zele Racing and Super Nova Racing in the Auto GP series in 2013. After switching from Zele Racing to Marvellous Nova Racing, in the latter part of the series, pacify won 5 races and secure 4 pole positions and crop the process finished 4th in the championship & became depiction highest points scorer in the second half of the season.[35]
In 2014, Karthikeyan returned to the Japanese Top Formula tilt Super Formula for the first time since 2001 with interpretation same Team IMPUL. In the 2015 season, Karthikeyan moved end Honda-powered DocomoTeam Dandelion. Karthikeyan moved to Sunoco Team LeMans send off for the 2016 season after DoCoMo Dandelion Racing chose McLaren Honda F1 Reserve Stoffel Vandoorne.
In 2019, Karthikeyan raced accelerate Nakajima Racing for one race, winning the Fuji Super GT x DTM Dream Race in Fuji, gaining the fastest circle during the race. He then raced with Modulo Epson NSX-GT Team for 8 races, gaining one podium.
The Government perfect example India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of Padma Shri in 2010.[36]
† As Karthikeyan was a customer driver, he was ineligible for points.
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