Narain Karthikeyan recalls how he first got to know Ajith Kumar: 'That’s when I realised he was very genuine'

India’s first Formula One driver, Narain Karthikeyan, and Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar are set to race together in the upcoming Asian Le Mans Series. Their association, however, is not new — it goes back to the early 2000s, when Ajith’s passion for motorsport first connected him with Narain. Now, their bond has transformed into a professional partnership that could lead them to the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans in France.Narain recalled how he first got to know Ajith during his Formula Two days in England. The actor, already deeply interested in bikes and aeromodelling, would often ask him for insights into the tracks. “That’s when I realised he was very genuine and deeply committed to motorsport,” Narain shared with India Today, adding that the bond they forged back then has stayed strong through the years.The idea of teaming up for Asian Le Mans first came up during a dinner in Dubai last year. Narain admitted he initially brushed it aside. But Ajith followed up six months later with the same conviction: “Let’s do this.” For Narain, this persistence reflected Ajith’s seriousness about creating a truly Indian team with Indian drivers.Ajith has been putting in consistent effort to prepare for the championship, which begins in December at Sepang, Malaysia, followed by Abu Dhabi. Narain praised the actor’s growth over the past 18 months. According to him, Ajith has faced his share of incidents on track, but has now evolved into a “much better and more competitive driver.”Narain said he is excited to partner with Ajith, not just because of the actor’s star power but also because of his attitude. He described Ajith as easy to get along with, eager to learn, and genuinely committed to strengthening Indian motorsport. “I’m really looking forward to this journey,” Narain said, underscoring how their shared passion has brought them together once again — this time on the race track.