As the preparations for the Indian Grand Prix get under way, local driver Narain Karthikeyan will be optimistic that his home race will lead to success after a season which has been largely frustrating.
In just its second season in Formula One, the Indian Grand Prix is still an unknown quantity on the F1 calendar and while there is the potential for motorsport in India, it is still very much in its infancy.
Completed in 2011, the Buddh International circuit has already played a profound role in the history of Formula One as Sebastien Vettel became the first race winner of the Indian Grand Prix, taking the 2011 drivers title at the end of the season.
The race in India has heralded a new opportunity for Asia and suggests a long-term chance for Formula One, as more nations battle for places on the calendar. America has been a good example of this healthy competition, making a return to the grid in 2012 for the first time in five years, with a new circuit and potentially a new future in the sport.
While Europe still tends to dominate Formula One, India will be hopeful that the sport will receive a growth in popularity, with the long-term future being the main goal for the event organisers.
As a result, Asia is now seen as a major growth market for Formula One as countries such as Singapore, South Korea and India pledge their support for the Formula One revolution. The theory now is that new nations could join the sport in the future with Thailand and Indonesia being radical suggestions for future Grand Prix venues over the next ten or twenty years.
In the mean time, India will be looking to build a long-term legacy as a Formula One venue, creating its own modern day history and perhaps inspiring future generations to join the sport.
Narain Karthikeyan has become one of the few icons in Indian motorsport, enjoying two varied spells in Formula One, with Jordan in 2005 and more recently with HRT.
Despite struggling for success at the highest level, Karthikeyan has shown the potential for achievement for future generations, with a team which is also attempting to find its feet in Formula One.
Karthikeyan has also been one of the influential characters in bringing the sport to India and the 35-year-old will be optimistic that he can perform in front of a home crowd, despite struggling to get the most out of his HRT Cosworth.
The smallest team in Formula One have always appeared to punch above their weight in the sport and since joining Formula One in 2010 the Spanish team’s progress has always appeared limited, particularly when compared to their nearest rivals at Caterham and Marussia.
However since joining the team in 2011, Karthikeyan has shown good consistency in a car that has often looked largely uncompetitive against the established opposition in the sport.
In his second spell in Formula One, the Indian driver has been a valuable asset for the smallest team in the sport and with the 2012 season quickly drawing to a close, the 35-year-old will still be hoping that the season ends on a high, his home race could still show signs of promise.
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