Karthikeyan finishes fifth

India's motor racing ace Narain Karthikeyan stamped his class on the international circuit, charging from tenth on the grid to finish fifth in the second race of the opening Superfund World Series double-header at Jarama in Spain.

The Tata Carlin Motorsport driver, who retired from the first race after spinning out with a rear brake problem, made up good ground early in the second race, passing Jean-Christophe Ravier and Angel Burgueno early, according to information received.

After making his mandatory pit-stop on lap 16, Karthikeyan emerged in sixth place behind Enrique Bernoldi, who started from pole position.

Unfortunately, a brief spin while attempting to pass Bernoldi cost Karthikeyan time, but when his Brazilian rival was served with a stop/go penalty, he was able to move ahead of him into the fifth place, which he held to the finish.

The championship now heads to Belgian circuit Zolder for its second round on April 26-27.

UNI