Long road ahead: Narain

If there was one question that India8217;s Formula One hopeful Narain Karthikeyan would like to dodge, it is: Will India ever produce a For...

If there was one question that India8217;s Formula One hopeful Narain Karthikeyan would like to dodge, it is: Will India ever produce a Formula One driver? Ask Narain, who until date has tested with Jaguar Racing and Jordan, and an optimistic 8216;yes8217; comes as the reply.

8216;8216;People just don8217;t seem to understand that talent alone is not enough,8217;8217; he informs. The soft-spoken 25-year-old admits that breaking into the de la cream Elite-24 remains hardest for any driver. Gesticulating, by looking at the Almighty, Narain bursts out 8216;8216;if only there had to be an Indian in F1, it would be easy,8217;8217; and adds that it is like breaking tradition and trying to revolutionise things.

Asked if these things ever matter, Narain in a flash says 8216;8216;of course. It8217;s a pay-back to a supportive nation that looks up to you to get their fragmented sporting name in world sporting map.8217;8217; Narain, who currently is engaged, with the Telephonica World Series, talks of the next five years as the crucial make or break period. Citing the example of Toyota8217;s Allan McNish, the hottest driver in F3 who got his F1 break this season, Narain explains 8216;8216;his break came at 32. There is still time.8217;8217;

With just one podium finish so far, the Fastest Indian admits to have brought down his focus. Realistically he says 8216;8216;let me first get into being a full-time test driver before making it big.8217;8217; But Narain would have to wait for that as his immediate target this year is to get better finishes in the World Series 8212; after managing just a third place in the four events so far.

Narain, who currently drives for Milan-based Team Tata RC Motorsport, says 8216;8216;mine has been the case of not being in the right place at the right time.8217;8217; As for his big break, Narain singles out factors such as multinational companies such as Honda or BMW that push their drivers.

This aspect only brings to mind Kigfisher8217;s association with Benetton in 8217;96. 8216;8216;Things would have been much different had that association continued.8217;8217; Interestingly, Schumacher Sr got into F1 courtesy: Mercedes. With two tests under his belt and appearing in every level of Formula racing Narain admits that it has made him mature. Technically put, Narain says, 8216;8216;the F1 tests were a dream. But then not making it was not demoralising. I only realised I had to learn more.8217;8217; For the record: A World Series car is 8 seconds faster than a F3 car, but still a 11 to 12s off F1 standards. Narain reminds 8216;8216;I was a couple of seconds off Jenson Button during the tests at Jordan 8212; which I feel is good enough to give me hope.8217;8217;

Asks if drivers, including teammates, help when on tour Narain gasps 8216;8216;no way,8217;8217; adding, 8216;8216;it8217;s a top-secret. Even teammates do not dare part with that info.8217;8217;

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On the brighter side, however, is that Narain does get tips from Rob Williams New Zealand who runs a driving academy back home. 8216;8216;Rob has been a real help in handing out techniques and at times frequents at some of my races,8217;8217; says Narain. Last, but not the least, Narin discloses that Jennson Button has been of great help. After all, only a struggler understands the problem of another struggler.