Interview: Karthikeyan Set for Life in the Fast Lane

For Narain Karthikeyan, the newest rookie on the Formula One circuit, the last three years have been long and arduous after a string of near misses.

But the 28-year-old, who has secured an offer to drive for Jordan, says he never lost faith.

"I always thought it was going to happen, someday, somehow," Karthikeyan told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.

"Everyone in the motor racing world knows I'm fast. They say I'm erratic sometimes, but I've done well on different circuits against some very good drivers in tough conditions. I knew my chance would come, an opportunity would present itself."

Karthikeyan will become the first Indian to take part in the F1 championship when the 2005 season begins in Melbourne next month.

Having raced over the last eight years in British Formula Three and the Nissan World Series, he tested with Jaguar and Jordan in 2001 but failed to make the grade.

Karthikeyan again came agonisingly close in 2003, when he was offered a drive by Minardi, but failed to generate the huge sums of money needed by the cash-strapped team to secure his place.

The Minardi miss was the bitterest moment of his topsy-turvy career.

"At that time, sponsors were just not prepared. It was very frustrating to be so near my dream and not be able to fulfil it. But this time, I guess sponsors realise I'm in a more competitive team and the return investment will be higher," he said.

Karthikeyan's sponsors, India's second-largest conglomerate, the Tata Group, and state-run refiner Bharat Petroleum Corp, have already agreed to back him. They will have their logos on his new Jordan at the beginning of the season.

Sleepless Nights

"The last two days were very intense, watching this whole thing finally come together. We knew we had to get the deal moving. I spent sleepless nights, but it's all turned out fine and it's over to the race track now," he said.

Karthikeyan will do extensive testing in Spain and Britain in the next few weeks to get the super licence he needs to compete in a Formula One race.

"I'll take it from there. We have six or seven days of testing planned. I know I can finally get up to speed, but it's going to be a tough first couple of races," he said.

Karthikeyan has driven before, in Formula Three, for Jordan's sporting director Trevor Carlin, who was said to be instrumental in getting the driver on board.

"Trevor knows me well, he knows what I'm capable of. He knows I'm fast and sometimes wild. But when you're pushing 110 percent all the time, the red mist can come over you."

Son of former national rally champion G.R. Karthikeyan, he took up racing because his hometown of Coimbatore was a sleepy place.

"All we do there is drive," Karthikeyan said.

Karthikeyan's entry to F1 will open the doors for other aspiring Indian drivers seeking to make it in what is one of the fastest growing sports in cricket-crazy India.

"That's the plan - to get other Indian drivers a foothold in the circuit," Karthikeyan said.

"There are some young guys coming up, but it'll perhaps take about five or six years for another Indian to make it."