New racing feeder series launched

NEW DELHI: As India brace up for the Formula One debut in October this year with the inaugural Indian Grand Prix, there is more young racing enthusiasts can look forward to.
The JK Tyre has announced the launch of a new racing series, JK Racing Asia Series, in New Delhi on Friday.
The series is the replacement series for the Formula BMW Pacific, which had been running successfully since 2003 and has to its credit producing drivers like existing Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel, Timo Glock and Nico Rosberg.
The series will commence in April with a total of 18 races to be held on six weekends in Malaysia, Korea, Indonesia, China, Singapore and India. On three occasions the JK Racing Asia Series will support Formula One Grand Prix in Malaysia, Singapore and the newly built circuit in India. The remaining three weekends will be part of the Asian Festival of Speed in Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia.
"The JK Racing Asia Series is truly an excellent series that has helped to groom many of the talented race drivers we see out there today. We are also excited to be coming here later this year to end our first race season with JK Tyre at the newly built Jaypee International Race Circuit" said David Sonenscher, CEO, Motorsport Asia. The series will showcase a line-up of drivers from all corners of the world including Asia-Pacific, Europe and Africa. It will be a single seater series, where talented young drivers showcase their abilities to a wide group of motorsport enthusiasts.
Thirteen teams will be participating in the event with two slots reserved for Indian drivers. Karting champion Raj Bharat has been finalised as one of the drivers. The series will run under the patronage of the JK Tyre and will remain under the management of Motorsport Asia, the biggest motorsport promoter and organiser in Asia.
"India is spearheading motorsport development in the region and with the growth of our economy and the interest level of corporates in motorsport, this will further strengthen the efforts of people associated with the sport. F1 coming to India, the launch of the JK Racing Asia Series, the two Indian drivers on the F1 radar bears testimony to this fact. 2011 truly is a year of Motorsports in India", said Vicky Chandhok, president, Federation of Motosports Club in India (FMSCI).