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India revs up for Karthikeyan's F1 debut
Narain Karthikeyan's face smiles down from giant hoardings in Indian cities, car stickers in his hometown proclaim "Narain, we are proud of you" and fans scribble good-luck messages on a special graffiti wall erected by sponsors in Mumbai.
Never mind that newcomer Karthikeyan will be a complete outsider on his Formula One debut in Australia on Sunday — his very presence in the race has stirred up a motor racing frenzy in India.
The mild-mannered Karthikeyan will become India's first F1 driver when he climbs into his Jordan in Melbourne.
"His impact has been phenomenal," said Vicky Chandok, head of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI).
"Indian corporates are among the biggest in the world but until now they did not give priority to F1. The sport being tech-driven, it's now logical for them to come in."
Karthikeyan's signing has given India, an attractive market for sponsors with its huge potential audience, a Formula One focal point after a stalled attempt to host a race in the country.
Sports fans in India are excited about a rare home cricket series against rivals Pakistan but Karthikeyan's yellow car will be the focus of attention on televisions sets across the country two days before the first Test match.
The domestic media have been running a stream of interviews with the 28-year-old Karthikeyan since he signed for Jordan last month.
Formula One already enjoys a huge following in the country, particularly in the cities, and the arrival of an Indian driver among the elite has whipped up the interest into a fever.
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