BENGALURU:The road to top echelons of open wheel single-seater racing is never easy. Financial backing and driving in the right series to graduate smoothly are equally important. But first thing is the talent to be able to attract eyeballs and backing. Jehan Daruvala has plenty of it.
His latest feat was the lights-to-flag victory after taking pole in the New Zealand Grand Prix recently at the Chris Amon Circuit in Manfeild. This is part of the Toyota Racing Series in Kiwiland. In the first two races, he finished second and seventh, respectively. He also became the first Indian to win a Grand Prix race, and that is a significant step up in anyone’s career.
Past winners include legends Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss, Graham Hill and Keke Rosberg.
“This win means a lot to me. It’s an honour to have my name on this trophy that has the names of great drivers. This win will always be a milestone in my career, and is a positive start to the year. I’m focused on what lies ahead and will work hard with testing and fitness as well,” he told Express on Wednesday.
Daruvala had turned out for the M2 Competition team and is currently fifth in the points standings in the series. This is just one of the laurels he has won. He had a podium place in the FIA CIK World Karting Championship in 2014, and has bagged podium spots and top-five finishes in the Eurocup Formula Renault NEC and Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 series for various teams, in addition to nine podium places in the current event.
What may have helped was the Tatuus FT-50 Toyota car he drove in Manfeild. “The FT50 is quite similar to the ones used in Formula Renault, and there’s a lot of familiarity with regards to feel of the car. Also, the tyres used are the same, and it was a good five weeks of driving experience,” said the racer.
The native of Mumbai is getting ready for a bigger challenge in 2017 — the FIA Formula 3 European Championship — and will race for Carlin Motorsport. And the series he has raced in curently will help him.
“The Toyota Racing Series is great, as it’s an intense five weeks of racing in various conditions. Three races per weekend means one gets that much more experience with race starts, wheel-to-wheel racing and wet weather driving. All this will definitely help in my rookie year in the European F3 season,” he felt.
The F3 European series is a significant step up, and will challenge any driver to the hilt, as some of the best talents race in it. “After two years of Formula Renault, European F3 is the right step forward. With winter testing having gone well, I’m hoping to be fairly competitive this year,” he concluded.
vivekphadnis@newindianexpress.com