Super Formula: Narain Karthikeyan finishes on podium in season-opener

Narain Karthikeyan started the new Super Formula season on a high note by securing a podium finish at the Suzuka round on Sunday.

The Indian driver had qualified on the front row for the season-opener, but a poor start left him trailing in the the lower half of top 10. He fought back over the course of the race in order to rise up to fourth place before Naoki Yamamoto stopped on the final lap with an apparent problem, which handed Karthikeyan a well deserved podium.

“There was a bit of inertia at the start – I’m not sure whether it was an error on my part or some clutch setting because normally we have good starts”, clarified Karthikeyan

“It is a great result considering the quality of the field. You are competing against guys like Andre Lotterer, who won the WEC (World Endurance Championship) opening race just last week. Then you have former F1 drivers like Kazuki Nakajima and Kamui Kobayashi, who has been on the F1 podium. So surely a good result and promising start”, remarked Karthikeyan.

Karthikeyan had a torrid year in Super Formula last year, with just five points to his name. However, a change in team - and a switch to Honda power from Toyota - has brought new hope for the 38-year-old along with a new approach to stay sharp in between the seven rounds that make up the Japanese-based single seater championship.

India's first ever F1 driver plans to participate in a Japanese-based sportscar racing series that will allow him to learn the very distinctive tracks in the East Asian country. Circuits in Japan outside of Suzuka are largely unfamiliar to Narain Karthikeyan - who has raced there thrice in F1 and in Super Formula's precursor too in 2001 - and getting mileage on them is something Karthikeyan believes is key to a better performance this year.

At the front, Lotterer took an easy victory after a blistering start from third place, with Nakajima - the defending Super Formula champion - accompanying him in second.

The next round of the Japanese championship is scheduled at Okayama International Circuit on May 24.