Naren set for WRC challenge

By P.L. Aravind

Bangalore, May 15: Slowly but steadily Indians have been venturing into the world arena in motorsport. The latest entrant is rallyist Naren Kumar, who will take part in the World Rally Championship in Greece and will be the first Indian to participate in the event.

The WRC is the ultimate test for a rallyist and Naren will be racing in the Acropolis Rally to be held from May 29 to June 1. He will participate in the production class.

"It is a good feeling and I have got the best of the team. I will try to do my best this year," he said.

For the squad to place their stakes in the team championship, they will have to participate in six of the eight races. Naren will drive in Greece, Turkey, Finland, New Zealand, Japan and England.

Naren will participate under the banner Team Sidvin and feels that a finish among points in Greece would be a good result for him.

"I would happy to finish the race with points. It will be a tough competition between 30 cars and some of them are the best in the world," he said.

Naren has been doing well in the Asian Pacific Rally Championship and now is all set to catch the imagination of the world.

Naren will be driving a Subaru for the first time. I n the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship Naren was driving the Mitsubishi Evo series cars.

On the difference between the two, he said: "These are two different cars. The Mitsubishi is more powerful but Subaru has better handling. I will have to drive really hard if I have to perform well."

Three-time world champion Tommi Maakinen’s company Tommi Maakinen Racing will manage Naren’s car.

"Tommi’s company will manage my car and I couldn’t have had a better person to manage my car," he said.