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Naren set for WRC challenge
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SportsDesk on 15 May, 2008 02:22:55
 
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.