New Delhi: Racing Team India will take its first step on the road to the 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend when it makes its debut at the season-opening round of the Asian Le Mans Series in Dubai.
The all-Indian squad, led by the driver line-up of Narain Karthikeyan, Arjun Maini, and Naveen Rao, will compete in the LMP2 category over two, four-hour-long races at the Dubai Autodrome. The entire endeavor is partnered by JK Tyre, one of the largest supporter of Motorsport in India..
The two runnings of the 4 Hours of Dubai will take place on February 13th and 14th respectively.
The series will then move to Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit for another round of two, four-hour races on February 19th and 20th. The ‘Racing Team India’s’ Dubai debut will make it the first outfit with an all-Indian driver line-up to compete in international endurance racing.
If it (the team) secures an invitation to the 24-Hours of Le Mans, which takes place in June 2021, it will become the first squad flying the Indian tri-color to take part in the iconic twice-around-the-clock endurance classic at the Circuit de la Sarthe in France.
Not just the world’s oldest sports car race, which has been held every year since 1923, it is considered to be one of the trifectas of legendary motor races alongside the Monaco GP & the Indianapolis 500. The distance covered in this one single race is equivalent to 18 Formula 1 races, thus making it the most extreme test of man and machine in the world of motorsport.
Fielding the Le Mans-winning ORECA 07 with technical support from reigning Asian Le Mans Series champion team Algarve Pro Racing, Racing Team India has already displayed a promising turn of speed. The car has a 4 litre V-8 engine which produces 600-bhp and has a top speed in excess of 320-kmph.
Karthikeyan ended the first day of testing, also held in Dubai, at the top of the timesheets. The success of the project lies in the combined efforts of the team which are now being synchronized.
India’s first Formula-1 driver Narain Karthikeyan said, “It is another proud moment for me to be representing our nation’s first all-Indian endurance racing team. I have flown the flag for our country across various motorsport disciplines from Formula One to NASCAR and SuperGT racing. I’ve raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans once before, and it was an incredible experience, one which I always wanted to repeat.”
On the occasion the former F2 and European Le Mans Series racer Arjun Maini said, “Firstly, it’s great to be back behind the wheel again, and to be flying the colours for an all-Indian team makes the experience even more special. Endurance racing is a format I’ve come to enjoy during my time racing in the European Le Mans series. I believe it plays to my strengths as a driver.”
Racing Team India is also associated with JK Tyre, as one of our inaugural partners. JK Tyres continues to be the largest supporter of Indian motorsport for over 50 years. They have been instrumental in developing and supporting both Narain and Arjun over the past two decades.
Sanjay Sharma, Head-Motorsport, JK Tyre said, “At JK Tyre we have been steadfast supporters of Indian motorsport over many decades. Not only have we created a robust domestic motorsport ladder, but we have always been extremely proactive when it comes to identifying, grooming, and supporting the international racing careers of some of our most talented youngsters. Now, with Racing Team India we have yet another chance to create history for Indian motorsport.”