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'Different feeling to anything else I have driven before'

Transcript of Narain Karthikeyan's Real Audio interview with Andrew Van de Burgt at Silverstone after his test drive for the Jaguar racing team on Thursday.

Hi Narain, first time in a Formula One car? So how did it feel?

Different feeling to anything else I have driven before. I have done only four timed laps so far, so lots to learn.

So what was the programme today?

Just trying to get used to the car. Been very difficult, but I will be okay.

Have you been using new tyres?

No, I don't think I will be using new tyres today.

Obviously, this is a car that has got traction control. How does it feel to use that?

Strange, but it's okay.

Does it mean you have to change your style?

No, not really. Just exiting the corners; that's a little bit different. But I am looking forward to my run.

How hard did you push it?

Nowhere close.

How about the 'G' force?

Maybe, I am not driving as flat out as yet, so I don't really know. But it is certainly not as hard as Formula Nippon, for sure!

At the end of the day, maybe, you can take some fuel out and go for a drive?

No, I don't think so.

You are the first Indian driver to drive a Formula One car, and that has attracted a lot of interest. Are you proud of that fact?

Yeah, I am happy for sure, for my sport in India and for my sponsors. Yeah, I am the first non-Japanese Asian to drive a Formula One car. Yeah, it's good!

And also there are a lot of people from that area.. . Does Formula One have a high profile there?

Yeah, we have 65 million viewers, much more than the population of England.

Any more young Indian drivers coming up who we should look out for?

Yeah, there will be in the next two to three years. There is one guy in Formula Asia who is pretty good, but unless you come to Europe you never know.

So this year you are doing Formula Nippon?

Pretty good! I finished in the points in the first race. In the second and third races I was in the points but the pit stops didn't turn out too good.

In the past people like Ralf Schumacher, Heinz Harold Frentzen, Eddie Irvine have come through to Formula One from Formula Nippon... Are you looking to follow that path?

Yes, that is the plan.

And are you working on a testing contract?

Yeah, my management is looking into it. India is a big market for the future, and if they wanna sell cars ... . At the moment I am the closest to Formula One from India. India is an open market for the multinationals and the rest of the world. So let us see.

© Jaguar Racing/www.jaguar-racing.com
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