Naren Kumar for World Rally Championship

Coimbatore-based Naren Kumar will debut for an Indian team in the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship in the Production Class in June, in Greece.

Kumar, a six-time national rally champion, will drive for 'Team Sidvin India', with technical and vehicle support provided by four-time World rally champion Tommi Makinen's Racity Oy Limited, at the Acropolis in Greece, it was announced at a media conference on Thursday.

Motorsports Association of India president Nasser Hussain hailed Naren's achievement "as a red letter day for Indian motorsports".

"But it's going to be a tough task for Naren, who has to work extremely hard," Hussain added.

Four-time world rally champion Makinen of Finland, who was present at the conference, said, "We can help Naren Kumar with our technical and driving support."

"It's a big leap from what we have done before. I am backed by a fantastic a sponsor and Makinen and his team who have probably built the best rally car," Naren said.

Naren, who has won 36 rallies in his career including an Asian zonal championship, will be driving a Subaru Group N Rally championship car for the first time.

Sidvin Core-Tech India's MD and chairman Mohan Nagarajan said his Bangalore-based company, a leading engineering service provider for oil and gas industry, has decided to take a plunge into World Motor Rally Championship as "rallying is the most spectacular of all motorsports".