Narain Karthikeyan, the fastest Indian on wheels and India’s major hope for securing a berth in coveted Formula One Grand Prix is all set to realize his dream. At a press conference held in Mumbai today, Narain announced that he has arrived at an agreement in principle with Team Jordan to race with them for this year’s Formula One. The agreement is expected to be finalized in a few days time. The Formula One 2005 calendar starts with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6, 2005. Narain’s F-1 run is being fuelled by the Tata Group, Tata Motors and BPCL.

Sharing the platform with him at this announcement were Dr V Sumantran, Executive Director –Passenger Car Business Unit and ERC, Tata Motors, Mr. Romit Chaterji, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Tata Services Ltd. and Mr. S Ramesh, General Manager, Retail Strategy, BPCL.

Says an excited Narain Karthikeyan, “It is a momentous day for me and it has indeed been a long journey. After a successful stint in the Nissan World Series this year, today, I can see my dream of becoming the first Indian driver to secure a Formula-1 berth becoming a reality. All this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my sponsors, the Tatas and BPCL and millions of fans who have inspired me in pursuit of my dream.”

“I must take this opportunity to inform you that the Tata Group, who have been my principal sponsors in the Nissan World Series, were the first ones to come forward and support me for pursuing my dream. I am proud to inform you that Tata Group will be one of my sponsors for Formula One. Since I wish to ensure prominent branding space on the Jordan car to the sponsors who have stood by me for the last few years, the Tata Group and BPCL will feature initially on the car. Thereafter, we have some other sponsors who are expected to take on the mantle.” he adds.

Says Romit Chaterji, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Tata Services Ltd, “The Tata Group has been supporting Narain’s racing career for the past three years and we are pleased that our association is now going to result in an F1 drive. The Tata Group is itself committed to be amongst the first Indian Corporate houses to compete in the tough global arena, and we are therefore delighted to support another Indian who has made it to the ‘fast lane’. Narain Karthikeyan with some excellent performances in the last few years in the Nissan World series has shown that he has the potential and the grit to achieve success in the F-1 races.”

Tata Motors, the country’s largest automaker, believes that Indian talent and skills can perform commendably on a global scale. Speaking on behalf of Tata Motors, states Dr V Sumantran, Executive Director -Passenger Car Business Unit and ERC, “Tata Motors, take great pleasure and pride in facilitating the entry of the first Indian to what is considered the pinnacle of motor racing, the Formula 1. It has been Narain’s long cherished dream and the dream of all motor racing enthusiasts in India, to see him participating in F1. He has all our best wishes as he takes on all the world’s best in motor sports.”

Says Mr. S Ramesh, General Manager, Retail Strategy, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., “Narain Karthikeyan stands for speed, grit and determination –all the brand attributes for Speed, the high performance Petrol from BPCL. Bharat Petroleum has been fuelling the ambitions of the Speed Master Narain Karthikeyan in his endeavour to make the presence of India felt around the world through motor sports and we wish him all the best in his endeavour”

Narain Karthikeyan, supported by the Tata Group, BPCL and some other leading business houses, has demonstrated consistent performance in the Nissan World series recording wins in Magny Cours, France and Valencia, Spain, which are Formula one circuits. Narain has also test-driven for Formula One teams of Jordan, Jaguar and recently Minardi and has impressed one and all with his speed and determination to compete at the highest level.

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