The Future of Narain Karthikeyan

“There’s still a long way to go in the season,” Narain Karthikeyan told autoX before leaving for the third round of the Japan-based Super Formula championship at Fuji Speedway. “But the results are encouraging and I feel confident that we can get more of them.”

A podium and a points finish in the first two rounds this year has meant that Karthikeyan has already suprassed his points total from all of last year. Keeping up that momentum will, of course, not be easy in a championship that has the fastest single seaters in the world outside of F1 and Indycars. Not to mention fast and flowing tracks and a field that has a wealth of knowledge about them. But a switch from last year’s championship winning Toyota powered team to one using Honda power is a move that Karthikeyan feels will still work out well for him.

“Toyota engines have an advantange in terms of software,” said Karthikeyan. “But Honda is right there in terms of power and driveability.” An additional boost to Karthikeyan this year should be having completed a whole season of racing last year, giving him more knowledge on tracks that are unique like there are far corners for which a driver will brake in a straight line, which is usually how circuits in Europe – where Karthikeyan has done most of his racing – are.

Karthikeyan had even planned to race in some Super GT races in Japan in the middle of Super Formula rounds in order to not be idle. He is after all, up against drivers who have been based there for years as well as competitors like Andre Lotterer who stay…gainfully occupied. However, that plan may only result in the odd race or two.

For now Karthikeyan’s further acclimatisation to Japan has included getting more comfortable with the language. Although he confessed, not to the point of being able to go for a night on the town on his own. So it’s still largely the cockpit of a racing car for him.