Bleachers' Brew #200 Interview with Karun Chandhok

This column appears in the Monday March 15 edition of Business Mirror.

Interview with Karun Chandhok

by rick olivares

This is my 200^th column of Bleachers’ Brew. Can you believe that? For someone like me who read almost every newspaper and sports magazine in the land when I was younger, it sure fills a fanboy dream to be writing about sports.

As a kid, I got exposed to a myriad of sports. Football and baseball became my first loves. That was followed by basketball, American Football then ice hockey. With regards to motorsports, I didn’t have much exposure. But on several occasions, my dad took me to watch Evel Knievel, Monster Trucks, and Stock Car racing. I haven’t been to much but I remember everything vividly as if it were yesterday.

So doing this interview (thanks to ESPN Asia) with 26-year old Indian Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok was a real thrill. Chandhok won the Formula Asia Championship in 2001 and the Formula Asia V6 champion in 2006. He now drives for Hispania Racing Team (HRT) F1 with 27-year old Brazilian Bruno Senna, the nephew of the late Ayrton Senna. On occasion, Chandhok does commentary for F1 for ESPN-Star Asia.

Rick: You became the first Indian to be invited to join the British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC). How huge is that? And is car racing huge in India? How did you get started in it?

Karun: Becoming a member of the BRDC is our racing equivalent to becoming a member of the MCC at Lords in Cricket or The All England Lawn Tennis club at Wimbledon. I feel very proud to be the first person from my country to join the BRDC. Racing in the United Kingdom has been a huge part of my life and my career and it’s a great feeling to be recognized by the people over here. The BRDC is actually based at Silverstone which is pretty much my home circuit until we get the Indian Grand Prix in 2011. During my F3 days I used to work here at the racing school and got to know more about the BRDC and appreciate how important and exclusive membership to the club is.

My father used to race and my grandfather before that so it was a natural progression for me to get into racing. I have always been a big racing fan and used to accompany my father to the racetrack every day. In India, getting into the family business is very common so I guess this is ours!

Motorsports has seen massive growth in India over the past decade and JK Tyre has played a significant role in achieving this. India’s talent pool is second to none and it is important for young upcoming drivers to get their basics right as they move up the ladder. We need more companies like JK Tyre to help us move up through the different categories. This is a sport where funding is crucial and we need participation from many more organizations. This is definitely a sport that is on the rise in the country and with the Indian GP being slated for 2011, the benefits to companies are enormous.

Rick: How were you able to hook up with Hispania Racing F1? Is it a coincidence that they will be competing in the 2010 Formula One season?

Karun: The road here has definitely been long and winding. I have had many ups and downs in my career but I have never given up. I have won a race in almost every racing category that I have competed in so have always been confident that I have what it takes to compete at the highest level. We started talking to (retired Spanish F1 driver) Adrian Campos since Valencia last year, but things were dragging on for various reasons. We started to look at other options and were close to other deals but nothing materialized. Then Colin Kolles, Team Principal and Managing Director of HRT F1 team, called to say he was going to be taking over the running of the team. We were able to work very quickly with him and, along with (Formula One President and CEO) Mr. Bernie Ecclestone’s advice, sorted out a deal.

Rick: Describe the rush you get behind the wheel and when you put the pedal to the metal? Don't you get afraid?

Karun: When you get into the car and put the visor down you have no time to be afraid. You need to be focused and have the highest levels of concentration.

Rick: Talk about the Dallara that you'll be driving?

Karun: Dallara, who have built the chassis, are an excellent manufacturer who builds the GP2, Indycar and Formula 3 cars. The whole program was delayed due to a few financial issues so Colin Kolles and Mr. Jose Ramon Carabante (the owner of HRT F1) have only taken over the project in the past month. It’s been a real race to even get to the grid in Bahrain but at least now it looks like we will be there. Dallara and all the engineers have managed to work 20-hour days to get here. Early on it will be very hard to get reliability as the other teams have done 8000-10000 km of testing and we haven’t even started the engines but there are some very good designers and engineers involved so I’m optimistic that we will be in better shape as the season goes on. It is a first step, and I think from Barcelona onwards when we can say our real season starts.

Rick: What would you tell someone who isn't a Formula One fan on why he should get into it?

Karun: Come to a race. You have to see it and hear it to believe it!!

Rick: I’m definitely planning on watching the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Singapore on September 24-26 of this year. F1 night racing through the city streets – it’s a different experience. See you there!

Hispania Racing F1 Team: Bruno Senna & Karun Chandhok