Karthikeyan impresses at Silverstone

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 18: NARAIN Karthikeyan once againproved his mettle on the Formula One tracks as he braved adverse weather conditions on the silverstone circuit in England to post very competitive timings while test driving for Jordan team.

With temperatures dipping to around one degree celsius and continuing rains making the conditions extremely difficult, Karthikeyan, the first Indian to drive a Formula One car, clocked an impressive one minute 36 seconds on his third round comprising ten laps. He was just one second behind Jean Alesi who is considered to be one of the best drivers in rainy conditions.

Karthikeyan, whose second round timing was one minute 37 seconds, again a second behind Alesi’s one minute 35.9 seconds, improved his performance further in the third round. Alesi also improved his timing to one minute 34.8 seconds in the third round to remain marginally ahead. Jordan had given Karthikeyan his first opportunity to test drive a Formula One car earlier this year.

Though highly impressed with the performance of the Indian, they expressed their inability in hiring him as a test driver as they did not have a vacancy. However, they were forced to invite Karthikeyan for today’s drive which was meant only for Jordan’s F1 drivers. (PTI)