Home » Sports » Motor Racing
Indian drivers slam Mallya
Source: Agencies |
July 14, 2011, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
KARUN Chandhok and Narain Karthikeyan defended their achievements in Formula One yesterday after dismissive comments by Force India team owner Vijay Mallya.
"I think it's a bit sad that in one breath the chairman of our Indian ASN (national sporting authority) is talking about how much he has done for Indian drivers and then in the next breath he is criticizing India's only two Formula One drivers," Chandhok said.
"If you are going to criticize people, at least do it with some facts," he added. "Having never tested either Narain or myself in one of his cars, he doesn't have the facts."
"I understand the need to find the next Indian star, and I use the word next not first, and the need to create more Indian F1 drivers. But you are not going to find the next Indian star by running events in single-engined four-stroke rental karts on 400 meter tracks made out of concrete."
Mallya, a liquor and aviation billionaire, has launched a 'one in a billion' driver talent search at kart tracks across India aimed at discovering an Indian Lewis Hamilton. He said recently that Indians should get behind Force India rather than bemoan the lack of an Indian driver on the grid.
"As far as the existing Indian drivers in Formula One are concerned, I can only feel very sorry for them. They are getting drives by the teams who clearly can't compete," he had said. "If that's what they want to do, drive a Formula One car for the sake of driving a Formula One car and winding up at the back, I can't do anything about it."
Real talent
Chandhok, whose father Vicky is president of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India, said the JK Tyre Rotax challenge was a better bet for discovering real talent. "The Rotax karts are the same as used elsewhere in the world, you send drivers to the world final and that's where you are going to find the next generation of drivers," he said.
Karthikeyan, who was backed by Mallya in Formula 3, started the season racing for Hispania, but he has been moved aside, until the inaugural Indian GP in October.
"Against all the odds, both of us have made it to Formula one," Karthikeyan said. "It doesn't matter who I drive for in the Indian Grand Prix. It's just a symbolic and historic moment and one that can show aspiring young drivers what they can do with hard work and effort."
"I think it's a bit sad that in one breath the chairman of our Indian ASN (national sporting authority) is talking about how much he has done for Indian drivers and then in the next breath he is criticizing India's only two Formula One drivers," Chandhok said.
"If you are going to criticize people, at least do it with some facts," he added. "Having never tested either Narain or myself in one of his cars, he doesn't have the facts."
"I understand the need to find the next Indian star, and I use the word next not first, and the need to create more Indian F1 drivers. But you are not going to find the next Indian star by running events in single-engined four-stroke rental karts on 400 meter tracks made out of concrete."
Mallya, a liquor and aviation billionaire, has launched a 'one in a billion' driver talent search at kart tracks across India aimed at discovering an Indian Lewis Hamilton. He said recently that Indians should get behind Force India rather than bemoan the lack of an Indian driver on the grid.
"As far as the existing Indian drivers in Formula One are concerned, I can only feel very sorry for them. They are getting drives by the teams who clearly can't compete," he had said. "If that's what they want to do, drive a Formula One car for the sake of driving a Formula One car and winding up at the back, I can't do anything about it."
Real talent
Chandhok, whose father Vicky is president of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India, said the JK Tyre Rotax challenge was a better bet for discovering real talent. "The Rotax karts are the same as used elsewhere in the world, you send drivers to the world final and that's where you are going to find the next generation of drivers," he said.
Karthikeyan, who was backed by Mallya in Formula 3, started the season racing for Hispania, but he has been moved aside, until the inaugural Indian GP in October.
"Against all the odds, both of us have made it to Formula one," Karthikeyan said. "It doesn't matter who I drive for in the Indian Grand Prix. It's just a symbolic and historic moment and one that can show aspiring young drivers what they can do with hard work and effort."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
