Explained: The Motorsport dream Narain Karthikeyan is chasing and why the Le Mans matters

What is Asian Le Mans?

It is a four-event endurance racing series that is held at the Dubai Autodrome, Dubai and the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The Asian Le Mans is the fourth event of a series based on the 24 hours of Le Mans. The 2021 iteration of the event will be it’s ninth in existence and the first time an all-Indian racing team will be participating.

The Asian Le Mans has three car classes – the LMP2, LMP3 and the GT and all cars drive in the ‘Four hours of Dubai’ event and the ‘Four hours of Abu Dhabi’ event, twice each. Describing what it is like to race at the Asian Le Mans, Indian race car driver Arjun Maini spoke to reporters over a Zoom call yesterday.

“The LMP2 is the top class in the Asian Le Mans series. That’s what we are taking part in and it has the fastest cars. You have an option of four different manufacturer cars from which you can choose. We are with the XYZ which has been the most successful in the past few years. The LMP3 is also a prototype car, but is slower by almost 7-8 seconds a lap.

“Then there are the GT cars, which are another step slower to the LMP3s. What makes the racing quite interesting in my opinion is that not only do you race against your own class, but are constantly battling with guys from other classes, trying to overlap them. It brings the excitement into endurance racing and ensures that anything can happen at any time,” said Maini.

Naveen Rao, Narain Karthikeyan and Arjun Maini will participate in the Asian Le Mans on February 13.

How do you qualify for the ’24 hours of Le Mans’ race?

There are multiple ways teams can enter the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Teams that win their class in the previous year’s race are given an automatic spot. Other than this, teams that earn wins in the European Le Mans Series, the Asian Le Mans series and the Michelin Le Mans cup are also invited. Winning the Asian Le Mans series will be the ticket for the ‘Racing Team India’ stable to enter the 24 hours of Le Mans race.

What is the 24 hours of Le Mans race?

A part of the holy trifecta of motorsport racing along with the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500, the 24 hours of Le Mans is a unique race that tests the endurance of cars and drivers.

It doesn’t look to test just the speed, since top spots are garnered by cars that have travelled the most distance in 24 hours. The race is a marriage between the durability of a car, it’s speed, combined with the testing of the drivers’ mental and physical abilities in a race that goes on into the night.

Why is it important for Karthikeyan?

In 2009, Karthikeyan, set to drive the #14 Audi R10 TDi as part of the Kolles Le Mans team, dislocated his shoulder in a fall just before the race. Despite the Audi doctor clearing his participation in the event, the Automobile Club of the West (ACO) disallowed the Indian Formula One racer from taking part in the Le Mans.

Narain Karthikeyan at the Tata Indicom Nokia handsets launch at the Taj. (Express Photo by Paroma Mukherjee/File)

Over a Zoom call yesterday, Karthikeyan who has enjoyed a storied career across many different arenas of motorsport, said that the 24 Hours of Le Mans was the one race that he wants to participate in and the Asian Le Mans allows him a chance to qualify for the main race in a competitive manner.

“Yeah, absolutely, I’m here to complete an unfinished business. Le Mans is one of the greatest races in the world and I want to go back and get the job done and not only drive there but be competitive,” said Karthikeyan.

What all has Karthikeyan accomplished in his career?

In 2005, Karthikeyan burst onto the scene after he secured a drive with the Jordan racing team in the Formula One circuit. He then made a return to Formula One from 2011-2012 with Hispania Racing. Along his career, Karthikeyan has raced in the Nascar Camping World Truck Series, the Superleague Formula, the Auto GP series and most recently was in Japan taking part in Super GT races.