Karthikeyan to lead first all-Indian endurance racing team

New Delhi, Dec 22 India's first Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan will lead an all-Indian team at the 2021 Asian Le Mans Series in February 2021. Racing Team India is the first team to compete internationally in endurance racing with an all-Indian line-up and while it has confirmed its entry at Asian Le Mans, it has set its eyes on the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans in France later in the year.

Karthikeyan will be accompanied by endurance racer Arjun Maini, who has just come off a season off the 2020 European Le Mans Series with Algarve Pro Racing, and Naveen Rao, who is the reigning IMSA Prototype Challenge champion.

The team will drive an ORECA 07 car in the LMP2 class, and have technical support from Algarve Pro Racing Team.

The Asian Le Mans Series, to be held at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on February 5-6 and February 19-20, comprises four races spread over the two race weekends, with each race lasting four hours.

Karthikeyan has the experience of competing at Le Mans, having driven for the Kolles Audi team in the 2009 European Le Mans series.

"I have been dreaming of going back to Le Mans for a few years now. This is probably the most exciting project in my career as a racing driver," Karthikeyan said in the team's statement.

"We have a young and fledgling team and it will no doubt be a big test for us, but I am confident of doing well."

( With inputs from IANS )