Karun Chandhok: First Indian to take the start of the 24 hours of Le Mans

Narain Karthikeyan could have been the first Indian to take the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2009, unfortunately he was injured just before the start of the race. The honour will now go to Karun Chandhok. Both drivers have Formula 1 experience and are natives of Chennai (formerly Madras).

Rookie at Le Mans, Karun Chandhok has raced the first two rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship in thee HPD ARX-03a Honda #22 of the British team JRM. To support him are two drivers who are no strangers to Le Mans, Peter Dumbreck, who was part of the Mercedes adventure in 1999, and David Brabham, victorious at Le Mans in 2009.

After single seaters, Karun Chandhok turned to endurance racing, and tackles Le Mans 24 Hours with enthusiasm: “I think I felt part of the race at the test last week. I’m discovering it’s a long old three weeks. I’m staying at the circuit for the first time ever in my career and it’s nice having a three minute walk to work! It’s a big week and with the 24 Hours at the end of it – you need to try and catch as much sleep as possible. India is slowly waking up to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and there’s a lot of journalists coming this weekend. Narain (Karthikeyan) and myself have spent the last ten years selling Formula One to India media and audiences so we can’t change that overnight, but we’ll try and do it over time. It would be nice to have a WEC round in India so perhaps we can see that in the future?”

Dave Davies, and Fiona Miller for quote.

Photo: Le Mans (Sarthe, FRANCE), Place De La Republique, LE MANS 24 HOURS, Monday, June 12, 2012, WEIGHING. Karun Chandhok will be the first Indian driver to take the start of the Le Mans 24 Hours