Narain wins at Brands again

BRANDS HATCH - India’s Narain Karthikeyan, representing the PSV Eindhoven team, won the Superleague Formula race to sustain his all-win record at this fabled track as he spared over 12 seconds to the 2008 series champion Davide Rigon.

Starting from pole position at Sunday’s race, Karthikeyan maintained a scorching pace for a seven-second lead before pitting for the mandatory change of four tyres.

Despite a troubled pit-stop where the right-rear wheel-nut would not go in cleanly, he extended his lead by over 12 seconds. The race was prematurely ended with six laps remaining due to a huge crash involving the New Zealander Chris van der Drift.

The Kiwi driver escaped the massive shunt with only minor bone fractures to his hand and foot, proving the incredible strength and safety of the Superleague Formula car.

The championship has a very strong driver line-up consisting of ex-Formula 1 drivers Franck Montagny and Robert Doornbos, current F2 champion and Virgin F1 test driver Andy Soucek, and GP2 race winner and World Series champion Alvaro Parente.

This win kept alive Karthikeyan’s unique record of winning at the Brands Hatch Circuit in every racing series he has ever participated. His prior wins came in Formula Ford, Formula 3 (when he beat reigning F1 World champion Jenson Button) and A1GP.

Karthikeyan said: “I’m really pleased to have won again here at Brands Hatch. I got a good start from pole and quickly found a rhythm. I guess the high speed nature of the track suits my driving style. As many famous racing drivers have said, it is without doubt one the most interesting and challenging circuits in the world.

“The pit stop was not perfect, but I had built up a sufficient lead so that it did not affect my overall position. I was settling into a nice rhythm again, and just starting to count off the laps to the chequered flag when Chris van der Drift had a huge shunt.

“It was an absolutely frightening scene on the track when I passed by on my next lap, and I am happy to hear that he is safe and in a stable condition.”

The Superleague Formula is the fusion of the two of the World’s most popular sports - capturing the passion of football with the thrill and excitement of motor racing. The concept kicked off in August 2008 with a field of V12-powered 750 horsepower single-seater race cars bearing the colours of the world’s leading football teams.