Watching Formula 1 on television drew India’s latest JK Tyre national racing champion, Sudarshan Rao Karwal to motor sport and mainly racing. Having won the Formula Swift title, the 24-year old Bangalorean has his eyes firmly on the Formula 1 circuit and hopes to follow his idol, Narain Karthikeyan into the sport.
“At the age of 12, it was Michael Schumacher’s exploits that stirred my imagination. At that age a lot of people were behind football or cricket. But motor racing appealed to me and I always dreamt of being on the track driving fast and super fast cars,” said Sudarshan, a Texas commercial pilot licence holder. “I followed Schumi religiously and watched most of his races. Then Narain came onto the scene and that made me even more hopeful of emulating him. Narain showed that Indians can also be there and ever since, a F1 stint has been my goal.”
Any time frame to achieve his goal? “Well, not exactly. Due to the recession, finding sponsors has been difficult. Maybe, in three to four years, I might be able to realise my dream,” he said.
“Right now, my priority is to race is Formula Rolon and then move onto Formula BMW Asia. That will help me to get onto F1. I am now with the TVS Girling team of Ram’s Racing. I intend to approach Red Rooster Racing and also Speed NK Racing to race in Formula Rolon,” he explained.
Asked about the eagerly awaited debut of Formula One in India, he reels off what more needs to be done and the advantages of hosting an F1 race: “I think it will be great if Formula 1 comes to India. Maybe, in three years it might just happen. Apart from the racing circuit, about fifteen 5-star hotels need to be built close to the circuit. A lot of other infrastructure is also needed. They say it will be ready by 2011. Well, if not by that time, maybe in the next couple of years. It will give a great fillip to the sport. Right now, we don’t have any Constructors coming into the sport in India. If F1 comes, they will also follow and a lot of good will happen to the sport.”
And about time, what with F1 suffering blow after high-profile blow to its integrity in recent years, from McLaren being punished for illegally obtaining Ferrari’s technical information to the recent expulsion from motorsport of Renault chief Flavio Briatore for race fixing at the Singapore GP 2008. “It’s very unfortunate and not good for the sport. The only good is that the sport is in the news even if for the wrong reasons and people keep talking about F-1. But I feel such things should not happen as it will dilute the sport in the long run,” Sudarshan said.
Any favourites among the present set of F1 stars? “No, I really don’t have any. Schumi was and will always be (my favourite). I do follow the sport and watch as much of it as possible but without rooting for any. Yes, Ferrari is my favourite team, again because of Schumi. If Ferrari do well, I feel happy” the racer said. A national racing title, a pilot license and a dream of driving an F1 car, does he only ever think of racing?
“Yes, as a young child I was always interested in driving fast cars and so that has now become a reality. God willing, if I am able to get onto the F1 circuit, all my dreams would have come true. I am surely working towards realising that,” said Sudarshan, a BE in Instrument Technology.
shreekumars@hotmail.com
Sudarshan Rao Karwal factfile
Formula Racing
2009
National Champion — Formula LGB Swift in
J K Tyre National Racing Championship-2009:
Total No of races held: 12; First Place: 4;
Second Place: 3; Third Place: 2.
2007
1) JK Tyre Junior Cup-Formula Maruti:
First Runner-Up in Championship
2) JK Tyre National Racing Championship
Formula LGB Swift: 2 Wins, 6 Podiums
2006
1) JK Tyre National Racing Championship
Formula Hyundai: 2 Podiums
2005
Debut in the Formula Maruti Category of JK Tyre National Racing Championship after excelling in Karting Championships
Karting
2004
1) Winner of MRF Karting Champions Trophy
2) JK Tyre National Karting C’ship-Finalist
2003
3 Podiums in MRF Indian National
Karting C’ship
2002
1) Debut in JK Tyre National Karting C’ship
2) Second Place in MRF Indian Karting C’hip