NARAIN KARTHIKEYAN
Profile
Birth Date: January 14, 1977
Nationality: Indian
Residence: New Delhi
Experience: 22 Seasons in Motorsports
Career Highlights
> The first and only Indian driver to race in NASCAR
> The first Indian driver to race in Formula 1.
> Finished an incredible sixth place in his first Le Mans Series race
> Became the first Indian and the first Asian to win the Formula Asia International Series.
> Competed in the British Formula Ford Winter Series and became the first Indian
to win any championship in Europe at age 17.
> Finished on the podium in first ever race.
> Became a semi-finalist in the Pilote Elf Competition for Formula Renault cars in 1992 at age 15.
NARAIN KARTHIKEYAN
Kumar Ram Narain Karthikeyan, known simply as Narain, was born January 14, 1977, in Coimbatore, India. Narain is driver of the #60 Chevrolet Silverado for Starbeast Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Although he is a rookie in stock car racing, Narain brings with him over 22 years of experience in open wheel racing.
Narain inherited his racing gene from his father who was a former Indian National rally champion who won the South India rally seven times. Seeing his son’s love of racing, Narain’s father enrolled him in the Elf Winfield School in France at the age of 15 where he quickly progressed, becoming a semi-finalist in the Pilote Elf Competition for Formula Renault cars and finishing on the podium in his first ever race. He has been a pioneer in motorsports for India ever since.
At age 17, Narain won the British Formula Ford Winter Series and became the first Indian to win any championship in Europe. He then went on to become the first Indian and the first Asian to win the Formula Asia International Series. He then went on to race one season in Formula Nippon and three in the Formula Nissan World Series. In 2005, Narain accomplished his childhood dream of becoming the first ever Formula 1 driver from India. He spent three years driving in Formula 1 before moving to the A1GP World Championship Series where he won the Chinese GP and the British GP at Brands Hatch. In 2009 and while still driving in the A1 GP Series, he raced in the Le Mans Series and 24 Heureus DuMans Kolles Audi R10Tdi, finishing in an incredible sixth place in his first ever La Mans Series race.
In March of 2010, history was made again when Narain became the first ever Indian-born driver to compete in a NASCAR series. He debuted in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Martinsville Speedway where he finished in 13th place. In recognition of his role as a pioneer in motorsports in India, Narain was awarded with the Padma Shri, one of the country’s highest civilian awards.
Placing India on the world map of motorsports, the man dubbed ‘The Fastest Indian in the World’ continues to break new ground. As the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Signh once said, “He is a true representative of India’s young spirit and he has set an example for the entire motorsports fraternity of India to follow”.
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Career Overview 2009
A1 GP World Championship2nd place at British GP at Brands Hatch
Le Mans Series and 24 Heureus DuMans Kolles Audi R10Tdi2008
A1 GP World ChampionshipWinner British GP at Brands Hatch
2007 A1 GP World Championship
Winner Chinese GP Formula One World Championship Williams F1 Team, Test Driver
2006 Formula One World Championship Williams F1 Team, Test Driver
2005 Formula One World Championship Jordan, 18th (5 pts)
2004 Formula Nissan World Series, 6th (TATA RC Motorsport)
2003 Formula Nissan World Series, 4th (Carline Motorsport)
2002 Formula Nissan World Series, 9th (TATA RC Motorsport)
2001 Formula Nippon, 14th (Team Impul)
1999 British Formula 3, 6th (Carlin Motorsport)
1998 British Formula 3, 12th (Carlin Motorsport)
1997 British Formula Vauxhall, 8th
1996 Formula Asia, Champion
1995 Formula Asia (4 races)
1994 British Formula Ford Winter Series, Champion


