Fired by the ambition to become the first Indian Formula One Race driver, Narain Karthikeyan is today the fastest Indian on the roads. Born in Chennai in 1976, Narain was inspired by his father G R Karthikeyan, who was a National Rally Champion himself.
He proved his mettle when he reached the semi finals in the Pilote Elf competition. Narain trained at the Elf Winfield Racing School in France. Returning to India, he raced in the 1993 Formula Maruti.
Narain worked the tracks on the European circuit, through the British Vauxhall Junior Championship. In 1994 he became the first Indian to win any European Championship, with the British Formula Ford Winter series.
He finished second in the Formula Asian Championship in 1995. The distinction of being the only Asian to win the Formula Asian Championship (1996) also belongs to him.
His racing idols – Aryten Senna and Michael Schumacher. He is also a fan of the great German Tennis star – Boris Becker.
