Now, Naren sets sights on podium

BANGALORE, May 1: Following his stupendous fourth place finish in his maiden appearance in Asian Pacific Rally Championship in New Caledonia recently, Team Rally India driver Naren Kumar now is keen to scale greater heights.
Naren's talent was never been in doubt. But the pressure to perform sits heavily on his shoulders. The Team Rally India duo of Naren and co-driver Ram Kumar are hoping to secure a podium finish in the second round at Whangarei, New Zealand, scheduled from May 11 to 13.
"It's important for us that we perform well as we hope to rope in a few more sponsors with our results," said Naren. "Funding has been a huge problem, but we hope to change that with some good results."
The MRF teams of Jussi Valimaki (co-driver Jarkko Kalliolepo) and Katsui Taguchi (co-driver Mark Stacey) have decided to skip the event. But Naren and Ram will have their hands full as defending champion Cody Crocker (co-driver Ben Atkinson) will make his season's debut here. Aussie Crocker will head the Subaru Motor Image Rally team.
"It's not going to be easy," said Naren. "I have driven in New Zealand before (with Team MRF in 2002), but the stages have all changed. This time the stages are at an old World Rally Championship route, so the terrain and conditions are entirely new," he added.
"That's the target really," said Vikram Mathias, Naren's INRC team-mate at JK Tyre.